/lɜːnd/, learnt /lɜːnt/. Forms: Old English leornian, Northumbrian liorniga, Middle English leornen, lornen, Middle English leornie-n, Middle English leornin, leorny, liernin, lerni(e, Middle English lernen, Middle English leorne, lerny, l(e)urne, Kentish lierne, lyerne, lyerni, lyerny, Middle English leerne, Middle English–1500s lern(e, Middle English, 1500s, 1800s dialect larn, 1500s Scottish leyrne, leirne, 1500s–1600s learne, 1500s– learn. past tense Old English leornode, leornade, Middle English Orm. lerrnde, Middle English leornede, Middle English lernid, leernde, lernd, Middle English–1500s lerned, Middle English leerned, lurned, lurnet, Middle English–1500s lernyd, 1500s Scottish lernit, leirned, lernit, 1600s– learned, learnt. past participle Middle English ileornet, Middle English ilerned, Middle English, 1500s ylerned; from 14th cent. onwards as in past tenselearnv.
/ləːn/, U.S. /lərn//lɜːnd/, learnt /lɜːnt/. Forms: Old English leornian, Northumbrian liorniga, Middle English leornen, lornen, Middle English leornie-n, Middle English leornin, leorny, liernin, lerni(e, Middle English lernen, Middle English leorne, lerny, l(e)urne, Kentish lierne, lyerne, lyerni, lyerny, Middle English leerne, Middle English–1500s lern(e, Middle English, 1500s, 1800s dialect larn, 1500s Scottish leyrne, leirne, 1500s–1600s learne, 1500s– learn. past tense Old English leornode, leornade, Middle English Orm. lerrnde, Middle English leornede, Middle English lernid, leernde, lernd, Middle English–1500s lerned, Middle English leerned, lurned, lurnet, Middle English–1500s lernyd, 1500s Scottish lernit, leirned, lernit, 1600s– learned, learnt. past participle Middle English ileornet, Middle English ilerned, Middle English, 1500s ylerned; from 14th cent. onwards as in past tense I. To acquire knowledge.
1.
a. transitive. To acquire knowledge of (a subject) or skill in (an art, etc.) as a result of study, experience, or teaching. Const. from, of (archaic), †at (a person). Also, to commit to memory (passages of prose or verse), esp. in phrases to learn by heart, by rote, for which see the nouns.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > learning > [verb (transitive)]
learnc900
undernimc1000
lerec1220
knowc1390
apprehenda1398
geta1400
learna1400
to take forth1530
to take out1550
c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) iii. xvii. [xxiii.] 232 From þæm he þæt gemet geleornade regollices þeodscipes.
c975 Rushw. Gosp. Mark xiii. 28 From fic-beom ðonne liornige bispell.
c1050 Byrhtferth's Handboc in Anglia (1885) 8 308/26 Þam þe lyste þisne cræft leornian.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 55 Gif we leornið godes lare!
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 9309 To leornenn lare att sannt iohan Off þeȝȝre sawle nede.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 17 Ate biginninge of cristendom elch man leornede pater noster and credo.
a1225 Leg. Kath. 940 Þes is al þe lare þat ich nu leorni.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 167 Þis Julianus in his childehode lerned nygromancie and wicchecraft.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 58 Al that Cristen men and wommen ouȝten leerne, thei mowe leerne out of the Bible.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Nucillus in Panoplie Epist. 238 I woulde have you to understand and learne this lesson.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 360 To learn True patience, and to temper joy with fear. View more context for this quotation
1715 D. Defoe Family Instructor I. i. i. 21 What shall I learn there of God?
1845 M. Patterson Ess. (1889) I. 16 The Frank..learned with implicit belief his faith from the mouth of the Roman priest.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iv. §1 162 It was from Earl Simon..that Edward had learned the skill in warfare which distinguished him among the princes of his time.
b. with clause as object.
ΚΠ
c1000 Ælfric Deut. xiv. 23 Leorna þæt þu ondræde Drihten on ælc tid.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 4970 Lerneþþ att me þatt icc amm wiss. Rihht milde & mec wiþþ herrte.
c1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 73 Alle þo þe ne wilen listen lorspel and þeron lernen wiche ben sinnen.
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 233 O, þu þet art cristen, lyerne hou þou sselt louie god.
a1400 Cato's Distichs (Fairf.) l. 62 in R. Morris Cursor Mundi (1878) III. App. iv. 1670 Lerne..quat werk þou folow salle.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xii. 561 Henceforth I learne, that to obey is best. View more context for this quotation
1884 F. Temple Relations Relig. & Sci. (1885) vii. 220 Scientific men will learn that there are other kinds of knowledge besides scientific knowledge.
c. With infinitive; also with how and infinitive.
ΚΠ
c900 tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (1890) iii. xx. [xxviii.] 246 Þa ða he in wreotum leornade to donne.
c1175 Lamb. Hom. 117 Discite bene facere þet is..leorniað god to wurchenne.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 675 Betere him adde ibe Abbe bileued þed doune þan ilerned vor to fle.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (Rolls) 10693 So hii miȝte lerni traitour to be.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 7496 Þou lernedest neuer to fiȝt.
c1500 Merchant & Son in J. O. Halliwell Nugæ Poeticæ (1844) 23 Y wolde lerne of marchandyse to passe ovyr the see!
1549 H. Latimer 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie sig. Dviv So your grace must learne howe to do of Salomon.
1602 2nd Pt. Returne fr. Parnassus v. i. 1999 I was a gamesome boy and learned to sing.
1729 Bp. J. Butler Serm. in Wks. (1873) II. 47 There are times for silence: when they should learn to hear, and be attentive.
1838 H. W. Longfellow Psalm of Life ix Learn to labour and to wait.
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) IV. 32 We learn morals, as we learn to talk, instinctively.
d. I am (yet) to learn: I am ignorant or unaware. Now usually I have (yet) to learn.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > want of knowledge, ignorance > be ignorant [phrase]
I am (yet) to learn1687
1687 G. Miege Great French Dict. ii. s.v. The truth of it we are as yet to learn, nous n'en savons pas encore la Verité.
1726 G. Leoni tr. L. B. Alberti Architecture I. 82 I am not to learn [It. Ne mi è nascoso] that some..are of opinion that very high Walls are dangerous.
1789 C. Smith Ethelinde I. iv. 91 Whence he came..Sir Edward was yet to learn.
2. † b. Const. on (the matter studied). Obsolete.
a. intransitive. To acquire knowledge of a subject or matter; to receive instruction. Const. as in sense 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > learning > [verb (intransitive)]
learn971
lerea1300
edify1612
971 Blickl. Hom. 13 Leorniað æt me, forðon þe ic eom mildheort.
c1000 Ælfric Past. Ep. §46 in B. Thorpe Anc. Laws Eng. (1840) II. 384 Lange sceal leornian se ðe læran sceal.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 6819 Lerne not of him þat is lyere.
a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sloane) (1862) 36 Þus have I lurnet at gentil men.
1554 J. Stanton et al. Let. 2 Aug. in Brieff Disc. Troubles Franckford (1574) p. x God grante, we maye lerne at their ensamples.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear vii. 122 I am too old to learne . View more context for this quotation
1781 W. Cowper Charity 120 'Tis thus reciprocating, each with each, Alternately the nations learn and teach.
1863 C. Kingsley Lett. (1878) II. 161 The great use of a public school education to you, is, not so much to teach you things as to teach you how to learn.
1884 F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer (ed. 2) I. 7 He was always willing to learn and to read.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > learning > [verb (transitive)]
learnc900
undernimc1000
lerec1220
knowc1390
apprehenda1398
geta1400
learna1400
to take forth1530
to take out1550
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 15614 Folweþ him ȝoure fadir is: to lerne on his lare.
a1400 Pistill of Susan 135 Wolt þou, ladi, for loue, on vre lay lerne?
1669 J. Denham Cato Major i. 17 I have heard that Socrates the wise Learn'd on the Lute for his last exercise.
3.
a. transitive. To acquire knowledge of (a fact); to become acquainted with or informed of (something); to hear of, ascertain. Also with object clause.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > action of informing > give (information) [verb (transitive)] > be informed of
hearc950
witc1000
haveOE
learnc1175
undergoc1290
takea1333
receivec1400
aherec1450
partakea1593
get1608
intelligence1637
to get wind of1809
to take away1839
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 7250 He lerrnde wel þurrh hemm. Whatt daȝȝ & whære o lande. Þatt ȝunge wennchell borenn wass.
1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 151 When you will lerne the time that it shall be full sea.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Hippocrates in Panoplie Epist. 278 You, whom I had learned by common voice to be a philosopher of great fame.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. ii. 51 I will presently go learne their day of marriage. View more context for this quotation
1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. II. 27 This good newes I have learned by a Letter of yours.
1798 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) IV. 243 I..have not yet learnt his sentiments on it.
1836 W. Irving Astoria I. 105 Lest the captain should learn the fate of the schooner.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xxii. 717 All that he knew about their treachery he had learned at second hand.
1864 R. Browning Mr. Sludge in Dramatis Personæ 221 He's dead I learn.
b. to learn out: to find out, discover. Now dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > find out, discover [verb (transitive)]
seeOE
fanda1000
finda1200
kenc1330
lenda1350
agropea1393
contrive1393
to find outc1405
outsearch?a1439
ripec1440
inventc1475
disclose?a1500
fish1531
agnize?1570
discover1585
to grope out1590
out-find1590
expiscate1598
vent1611
to learn out1629
to get to know1643
develop1653
ascertain1794
stag1796
root1866
to get a line on1903
establish1919
1629 tr. Herodian Hist. (1635) 171 Then, secretly torturing them, he [Albinus] learnt out all their treachery.
1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 109 I will tell you how the Trick is: And if I had not been an old Clothier and a Fulling-Boy when I was young I could not have learnt it out.
1899 W. Raymond Two Men o' Mendip xv. 250 But if he should find out? If any should learn it out an 'tell?
c. intransitive. To be informed, to ascertain, hear (of).
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > action of informing > give information [verb (intransitive)] > be informed
hear tellOE
hearc1320
to hear recorda1500
understand1574
learn1756
1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters iii. 243 It has never, that I can learn, been fully observed.
1827 J. Barrington Personal Sketches Own Times I. 29 How many rogues 'ill there be at Reuben, as you larn, to-night?
1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona ii. 18 He'll have to learn of it on the deaf side of his head no later than to-morrow when I call on him.
II. To impart knowledge. Now regarded as nonstandard in some varieties of English.† 5. To inform (a person) of something; with clause or thing as second object. Obsolete.
4. transitive. To teach. In various constructions:
a. To teach (a person).
ΘΚΠ
society > education > teaching > [verb (transitive)]
i-taechec888
lerec900
iwisseOE
to teach a personc1000
wisc1000
ylereOE
avayc1315
readc1330
learna1382
informc1384
beteacha1400
form1399
kena1400
redec1400
indoctrinea1450
instructc1449
ensign1474
doctrine1475
introduct1481
lettera1500
endoctrinec1500
to have (a person) in schooling?1553
lesson1555
tutor1592
orthographize1596
pupil1599
con1612
indoctrinate1621
art1628
doctrinate1631
document1648
verse1672
documentizea1734
form1770
intuit1776
skill1809
indoctrinize1861
society > communication > information > action of informing > give (information) [verb (transitive)]
learna1382
tella1382
givec1449
imparta1547
impute1594
reinform1605
reimpart1645
leave1677
volunteer1805
brief1866
to come across with1895
voice1951
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Prov. ix. 7 Who lerneth [a1425 L.V. techith] a scornere, doth wrong he to hymself.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 19028 In crist lai þat folk to lern.
c1440 York Myst. x. 20 Þus lernyd he me.
a1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 2 A man aught to lerne his doughters with good ensaumples.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms xxiv. 5 Lede me in thy trueth and lerne me.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) Prol. 11 Quhen ane ydiot..presumis to teche or to leyrne ane man that hes baytht speculatione ande experiens.
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine ii. xii. 249 No doubt the chickens crowed as the cocks had learned them.
1764 S. Foote Mayor of Garret i. 32 [An uneducated speaker] If they would but once submit to be learned by me.
1974 Times 16 Dec. 12/8 We asked whether he had learned the instrument at school... ‘No. He learned it himself and now he's learning me.’
b. To teach (a person) to do or how to do something. (Also in passive.)
ΘΚΠ
society > education > teaching > [verb (transitive)] > teach how
ken1362
learna1400
instruct1477
show1519
school1577
to show someone (also put someone up to) the ropes1802
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 8421 Set him faste to gode teching Til he be lerned him self to lede.
1480 W. Caxton Descr. Brit. 34 Gentilmens children ben lerned and taught from their yongth to speke frenssh.
a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 1794 To lerne you ffor to ride.
a1540 R. Barnes Wks. (1573) 352/1 Doth hee not learne all men to come to Christ.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. vi. sig. F2v He would learne The Lyon stoup to him.
1666 J. Bunyan Grace Abounding ⁋27 That my Father might learn me to speak without this wicked way of swearing.
1706 G. Farquhar Recruiting Officer iii. i. 32 The Captain learnt me how to take it with an Air.
1792 M. Wollstonecraft Vindic. Rights Woman v. 181 We should learn them, above all things, to lay a due restraint on themselves.
1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod iii. i. 115 The frequent practice of this exercise must have learned them..to become excellent horsemen.
1801 S. T. Coleridge Lett. I. 365 They learn us to associate a keen and deep feeling with all the good old phrases.
1844 B. Disraeli Coningsby III. viii. iii. 211 Learn to know the house; learn the house to know you.
1885 G. Allen Babylon I. i. 27 ‘Will you learn me to draw a church?’
c. To teach (a person a thing). Also with clause.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > teaching > [verb (transitive)] > teach (a thing)
to teach a thing971
learnc1175
kena1225
informa1393
showa1400
informc1400
precept?a1475
instruct?1520
to take forth1530
to take out1586
grind1815
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 19613 To lokenn watt itt lerneþ uss. Off [ure] sawle nede.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. x. 171 Logyke I lerned hir and many other lawes, And alle the musouns in musike I made hir to knowe.
c1420 J. Lydgate Assembly of Gods 957 I shall lerne hem a new daunce.
c1460 J. Fortescue Governance of Eng. (1885) xi. 135 Wherby we bith lerned þat it schal..be goode to owre prince..that he be well indowed.
1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 33 I pray you learne me th' use of this table.
1606 J. Carpenter Schelomonocham xiv. f. 58 So learneth he all children..in what honor..they should hold those persons.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 367 The red-plague rid you For learning me your language. View more context for this quotation
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 253 Having learn'd him English.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxxvii. 353 Her Ladyship asked one of the Children..Who learnt her her Catechism?
1831 J. J. Strang Diary 31 Dec. in M. M. Quaife Kingdom of St. James (1930) 198 I have succeeded in regulating them and learning them what to do without punishing a single schollar.
1876 W. Morris Story of Sigurd ii. 86 Thou..hast learned me all my skill.
1889 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms xliv We made up our minds to learn him a lesson.
1914 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 4 Apr. 10/3 I learned him that, yuh see.
1935 P. G. Wodehouse Luck of Bodkins xv. 181 The English public school system..isn't at all what an educational system should be... If you ask me, they don't learn the little perishers nothing.
1966 F. Shaw et al. Lern Yerself Scouse (title) Lern yerself Scouse.
d. To teach (a thing) to a person. rare.
ΚΠ
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. x. 374 Many tales ȝe tellen that Theologye lerneth.
1477 Earl Rivers tr. Dictes or Sayengis Philosophhres (Caxton) (1877) lf. 15v He..commaunded it shulde not be lerned to eny Straungers.
1694 J. Collier Misc. v. 64 'Tis the Rod, not the Inclination, which learns the Lesson.
1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona ii. 21 My father learned it to me.
e. I'll learn you: used as a warning of impending punishment. nonstandard.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > danger > threat or threatening > threaten (evil, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > make threats against > let (one) know the penalty of something
to teach a person a thing1575
larn1790
I'll learn you1822
1822 J. Galt Sir Andrew Wylie III. xxxiii. 279 I'll learn you to fill yoursel fu'.
1873 C. D. Warner in ‘Mark Twain’ & Warner Gilded Age xxix. 266 The conductor..reached the bell rope, ‘Damn you, I'll learn you,’ stepped to the door.
1974 P. Wright Lang. Brit. Industry iv. 41 The common I'll learn you..when used ironically, has the unstandard meaning of ‘I'll teach you never to do that again’.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > action of informing > give (information) [verb (transitive)] > inform (a person)
to teach a person a thingc888
meanOE
wiseOE
sayOE
wittera1225
tellc1225
do to witc1275
let witc1275
let seec1330
inform1384
form1399
lerea1400
to wit (a person) to saya1400
learn1425
advertise1431
givec1449
insense?c1450
instruct1489
ascertain1490
let1490
alighta1500
advert1511
signify1523
reform1535
advise1562
partake1565
resolve1568
to do to ware1594
to let into one's knowledge1596
intellect1599
possess1600
acquainta1616
alighten1615
recommenda1616
intelligence1637
apprise1694
appraise1706
introduce1741
avail1785
prime1791
document1807
to put up1811
to put a person au fait of1828
post1847
to keep (someone) straight1862
monish1866
to put next to1896
to put (one) wise (to)1896
voice1898
in the picture1900
to give (someone) a line on1903
to wise up1905
drum1908
hip1932
to fill (someone) in on1945
clue1948
background1961
to mark a person's card1961
to loop in1994
1425 Rolls of Parl. IV. 271/1 For, as I am lerned, ther ar to consider two thinges.
1441 in T. Stapleton Plumpton Corr. (1839) p. lix The said misdoers were learned by their especialls [sic]..that the said officers..had knowledge of their said lying in waite for them.
a1456 Ld. Cromwell in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 110 There is a greet straungenesse betwix..John Radcliff and you..as I am lerned.
c1500 Sc. Poem Heraldry (Harl. 6149) 84 in F. J. Furnivall Queene Elizabethes Achademy (1869) i. 96 Of brutane the duk..Richast armes is, as I lernit am.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida ii. i. 22 Learne me the proclamation. View more context for this quotation
1697 tr. Countess D'Aunoy's Trav. (1706) 57 You learn me Particulars I was ignorant of.
1697 tr. Countess D'Aunoy's Trav. (1706) 69 Having learnt him all which had past.
Draft additions 1997
e. learn-to-(read, ski, swim, etc.): attributive phr. used of a course of lessons or step-by-step introduction to a skill, sport, subject, etc. Originally and chiefly U.S.
ΚΠ
1963 N.Y. Times 1 Dec. x. 28/3 (advt.) ‘Learn-to-ski’ Weekends.
1965 J. Sturm in C. K. Stead N.Z. Short Stories (1966) 2nd Ser. 216 I..found an easy learn-to-read little book.
1967 U. Sedgwick (title) My learn-to-cook book.
1976 Milton Keynes Express 11 June 40/7 Newport Pagnell Swimming Club commence operations..on Tuesday..with learn to swim classes for youngsters.
1983 Money Jan. 78/1 Learn-to-sail and learn-to-cruise vacations are..offered by boat chartering concerns.
1990 Angling Times 29 Aug. 14/4 The chances of anybody making a success of learn-to-beachcast weekends and courses is [sic] a foregone conclusion.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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v.c900- like a rat up a rope
- like a red rag to a bull
- like a scalded cat
- like a shot
- like a son of a bitch
- lines up
- lines-book
- linesbook
- lineseat
- linesequential
- lineshark
- linesharker
- lineshoot
- lineshooter
- lineshooting
- lineside
- linesman
- linesmen
- linesoldier
- linesorter
- linespace lever
- linespace mechanism
- linespacing
- linespeople
- linesperson