Middle English Dictionary Entry

scọ̄le n.(2)
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms scọ̄le n.(2) Also scol, skole, schole, cole & (NEM) scul, (N) scule, skule, scuil & (errors) scolee, sool, sclole.
Etymology OE scōl, from L schola, scola; the form cole perh. from OF escole.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) A boys' or girls' school, an institution for comparatively elementary instruction; to ~ ward, toward school; gon to (usen) ~ , to attend school; holden ~, conduct a school; setten (idon, kepen, etc.) to ~, send (sb.) to school; (b) the group of pupils in a school; (c) in cpds. & combs.: ~ exercise, intellectual study of Scripture without devotion; ~ felaue (fere), a contemporary at school, schoolfellow; ~ hall; ~ hire, payment for schooling; ~ lessoun; ~ rof; ~ strete, transl. of L Areopagus.
Show 38 Quotations
2.
(a) A center for higher studies; a university; also, a school or faculty of a university; cite of ~, a city where higher learning is pursued, a university town; degre (gre) of ~; man of ~, a scholar; maister of scoles, a name given to Peter Comestor; to ~ ward, toward a center of learning; gon to (usen) ~, to attend a university or a school of a university; (b) the content of higher education; knowledge, learning; -- also pl.; divine (gostli) ~, divinity; lesen ~, to forget one's learning; (c) that which one does at university, scholarship, study; (d) pl. academic disputation(s or discussion(s; also, a formal gathering for disputation; holden scoles, to dispute; kepen scoles, hold a formal disputation; (d) in combs.: ~ determininge (previnge), detailed examination or resolving of an academic question; ~ divinite, scholastic theology; ~ lerninge; ~ matere, a subject for academic discussion; ~ termes, technical terms of an academic discipline.
Show 37 Quotations
3.
Fig.: (a) A place or environment where one's character or disposition is molded; (b) the training acquired in such a setting; discipline; (c) a principle of conduct; a method; a way of behavior.
Show 31 Quotations
4.
(a) A particular system of learning; a school known for its particular method; (b) a branch of knowledge; a subject of study; (c) the method or doctrine of a particular teacher.
Show 11 Quotations
5.
(a) A building in which a school is held; a school building, schoolhouse; (b) a public building; (c) a hostelry for pilgrims in Rome.
Show 7 Quotations
6.
(a) The place where an ancient Greek philosopher taught; (b) a Greek gymnastics school.
Show 8 Quotations
7.
(a) An institution for instruction in practical or extracurricular pursuits; (b) a skill or trick considered learned in such an institution.
Show 6 Quotations
8.
(a) A special position or office in the Roman army, usually held by a member of a special group or corps; (b) as a company term: a group.
Show 2 Quotations
9.
In surnames.
Show 5 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)43/9 : Se hehængel Gabriel heo ungewæmmede geheold, & heo wunede on Johannes & on eallra þære apostle gemene, on þære heofonlicen scole, embe Godes æ smeagende, oððet God on þyssen dæige heo genam to þan heofonlice þrymsetle, & heo ofer ængla werodan geuferede.
  • a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)131/27 : Gewit eallinge fram þinre unrihtwisnysse, & þine synnen mid ælmessen ales, & mid tearen adigole, & gebring þine lac to Romeburh, Martinum þan pape, þe nu wealt Engliscre scole.
    • Note: Antedates all senses.
  • 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)33 : Them nedeth to be well spede in taking of degree in the schole of urbanytie.
  • 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)45 : Maistyr of Henxmen, to shew the schooles of urbanitie and nourture of Englond, to lerne them to ryde clenely and surely.
    • Note: New phrase

©2025 Regents of the University of Michigan. For details about this collection's copyright see the MEC copyright statement and the U-M Library Copyright Policy. Data last refreshed Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 12:18:00.