Middle English Dictionary Entry
lērning(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | lērning(e ger. Also lereninge, leorning, lirning, (error) lernyg. |
| Etymology | OE leornung |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The acquiring of knowledge, the process of learning; (b) the action of teaching, instruction.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.300 : Al that he myghte of his frendes hente, On bookes and on lernynge he it spente.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.842 : Thogh he sitte at his book bothe day and nyght In lernyng of this eluyssh nyce loore, Al is in veyn.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)14811 : For to him was þe lawe bitauȝt Þat he him self bi lernyng [Vsp: thoru lering] lauȝt.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[2.5] 86a : It is necessarie to thi lernynge to teche thee first to knowe & worche with thyn owne instrument.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1619 : Sche hadde in lernyng so hir tyme spent Þat sche knewe of þe firmament Þe trewe cours.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2152 : It is but veyn on hym to swynke, That on his lernyng wol not thinke.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)192 : Þes fonnyd lordis & peple gessen to haue more þank of god & worschipe hym more in haldynge vp of here owen nouelries..þan in lernynge & techynge & meyntenynge of his lawe.
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn:Horstmann)303 : Dare þay no worde say bot it myghte be outhir to lerenynge or to louynge of god.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)320 : The attendaunce of þe husbond to his wijf is þat he ordeyne for her bodili norisching, bodili warding, and for her vertuose leernyng and gouernyng.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)277 : Then was no lernyng of no law: Thei lyfyd in lust euyn at þer lyst.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)4/14 : Her child had a grete corage to lernyng.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)11/31 : Þe hiȝe riȝt wey and dewe processe or ordre in whiche moral vertues asken to be tauȝt and to be lernyd..is not kept in techyng and leernyng.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)137 : Adrianus..gaf him to lerning, and first was mad a bischop, than a cardinal..and aftir was he mad Pope.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)413 : He sawe how the yonge sone gafe hym to no studie, ne to his lyrnyng, but spendid Euyll his tyme.
b
- c1400(?c1384) Wycl.50 HFriars (Bod 647)393 : Þus þei [friars] pursuen prestis..bothe to brenne hom and þo gospels of Crist written in Englische to moost lernyng of oure nacioun.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)22a/b : Doctrina: lernynge.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)11b : We þinkiþ to seche out of auctours bookes þe lore..of chiualrye and kniȝthod in lerninge to þe puple of Rome.
- a1450 Pore of spirit (Dgb 102)p.96 head. : A lernyng to good leuynge.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)32 : Wise men haue writen the wordes before, Left it in latyn for lernyng of vs.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)8/5 : Forto be a profitable procutoure to lay men, into whoos leerning and edifiyng..ouer litil writing into þis tyme haþ be deuysid.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)214 : A Lernynge: erudicio..vbi techynge.
2.
(a) Acquired knowledge, learning, erudition; (b) instruction, information; (c) a lesson to act upon, a doctrine; (d) a fact acquired by learning.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)16108 : Men han seide þat þou art wis of lernyng ȝore.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Dan.1.17 : To these children God ȝaf kunnyng and lernyng [WB(1): discipline; L disciplinam] in ech book, and in al wisdom.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1283 : Ane Abbot or a priorese..Aw besily for to be-gyn To hele þam þat er hurt with syn, Þurgh haly lernyng þam to lech.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)377/85 : Of þat same light lernyng haue I, To me Moyses he [God] mustered his myght.
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)106 : I am wyser thanne my brother by a dayes lernynge, sum sapiencior fratre meo erudicione vnius diei.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)167 : Mech of oure lernyng cam fro þe grekis.
- c1450 How mankinde dooþ (Lamb 853)99 : Þi tyme, þi leernynge boþe ben loost.
b
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.184 : Right as hym was taught by his lernynge, He foond this holy olde Vrban anon Among the seintes buryels lotynge.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.353 : He cristned hym, and made hym in that place Parfit in his lernynge, goddes knyght.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)21.160 : Have Minde how Salamon the kyng To his Sone Evere ȝaf teching..Thus ȝaf Sampson to his son lerneng.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)5/14 : So schal he take leernyng of knowyngal vertues.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)122b/a : If þese medicyns ne suffisen not, þanne seche þe chapitre of þe cure of woundis empostymed or discrasid, & þere þou schalt haue sufficient lernynge to þe fulle.
c
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.173 : Þat nis no treuþe of Trinite, but tricherie of helle, And a leornyng [vrr. lernynge; lering] for lewed men þe latere forte dele.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)50/19 : He wold neuer speke with no woman alone..This cautele of so wyis a man schuld be to us all a grete lernyng.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)102/9 : If he conseille þe to lytelynge of þi þinges þat þou hauys in tresour..wete þou þat he puttys yn þe no good lernynge.
- a1500 *Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)129/8 : The beleving of Him is trewe beleve and the lernyng of..wisedome.
d
- a1500 *Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)130/12 : And þou, which somtyme a viage vpon their marches, hast knowen of suche lerningis.