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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Study(e, n.² Also: studie, -e(e, -ei, -ej, studdy, -ie, stwddie, stoudei, stoodie, stedye. [ME and e.m.E. studie (c1290), OF estudie, L. studium.]

1. (A state or period of) thought, musing or contemplation. ?1438 Alex. ii 1945.
The Bauderane kest doun his face … And in ane study held him still And na word spak, gude nor ill c1420 Wynt. vii 512.
Yhit syttand As in a study [than] musand 1460 Hay Alex. 295.
Nectanabus … fell in ane studie And in his mynd worth trist and dolorus 1460 Hay Alex. 8848.
Cassamus … Saw that he was in a study musand And for to put him out of his pensee [etc.] c1475 Wall. ix 394.
The king marweld and couth in study stand c1475 Wall. xi 821.
Wallange saw him intill a study be a1500 K. Hart 172.
The bernis … Both in ane studie starand still thai stude 1535 Stewart 22874.
Into ane studie ane lang quhile so sat still, Without langage that tyme of ony on, Quaikand for dreid tha war so will of wone a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1408 (Wr.).
He pansed long before he spake, And in a study stood

2. Thought, chiefly directed to a particular purpose; investigation or consideration of a particular matter. c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1288.
Nought wonnyn was thrught thy wirtue The palladinar … But errare thrught my [sc. Ulysses'] gret studye … to Troye I went … And tretyt it so studiously That I that relyke brought away Thrught which … the cite … obtened we c1420 Wynt. viii 1448.
The Stewartis orygenalle The archedekyne has tretyd hale, In metyre fayre, mare wertwsly, Than I can thynk be my study a1500 Sir Eger 1749.
She … ever on the knight did think … A long while she sate in studie, And then she said [etc.] a1500 Colk. Sow i 489.
Exceding study May caus quhyle malancoly a1500 Seven S. 16.
His fader … tuke study and gret doloure Quhom to he suld the child commyt 1650 Carstairs Lett. 75.
How yourself may profit in the studdie of … upmaking in God whatever is missed in the creature

3. The application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge, learning or understanding; the pursuit of learning by reading, contemplation, etc.; mental labour of this sort. Also attrib. c1420 Wynt. vi 477.
At Athenys in study Scho bayd, and leryd ythandly 1456 Hay II 17/13.
Sa that ignorant ȝong lordis barnis mycht first lere the science be study and speculacioun and syne efter thai mycht … lere the practik of the ordre 1460 Hay Alex. 554.
He haid contenit the studie ane lang space With Aristotill a1500 Henr. Fab. 153.
All his lyfe dayis in perfite studie wair To get science 1490 Irland Mir. II 108/30.
A … noble comunite … gretlie gevin to study and wisdome c1490 Irland Asl. MS 60/27.
For defalt of knawlege bukis of tyme and study 1525 Aberd. B. Rec. I xl.
All the singaris … sall wphald … continuallie all dewyne seruice … except that the said Sir Johne Cuming, for teaching of the said scuill, and the said Gilbert Robertson for his study, … to depart fra mas at the laudis 1532 Comm. Univ. III (St. A.) (App.) 181.
The clerkis that makis actuall residence and stude in the said universite 1548 Knox III 6.
Joseph … with all studie set foorth the true knowledge … of the onely living God 1560 Rolland Seven S. 394.
Thay will couet daylie his companie Sa fra studie he salbe ay abstractit a1578 Pitsc. I 4/13.
For laik of dew studdie 1638 Baillie I 148.
The Englishe method of studie to our youth, … to close with Protestant neotericks 1682 Lauder Observes App. iv 308.
After many years pains and study, a niver-failing medicineattrib. a1538 Abell 10*b.
Study & buykis lufar wes Tholome Philodelf

b. Mental labour as pursued by an individual; an individual programme of learning, usu. at a university or centre of learning. Also pl.Freq. const. possess. adj. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 1068.
Sanct Machor than set all his wit To cun parfitly haly writ … In till his study sait a day 1507–8 Reg. Privy S. I 235/1.
To pas to Sanct Andres grafe besyde Napillis, and thairefter to remane in Italie at his study for the space of vi ȝeris tocum 1555–6 Reg. Privy S. IV 555/2.
Thir mony yeiris bigane … thair hes bene few that … gaif thair studie to obtene lettiris 1560 Rolland Seven S. 707.
I beleue he hes bene diligent In his studie a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 34.
George … wes sa gevin to lettres that … he passit to Sanctandrois, and thair remanit … at his studie 1562-3 Winȝet I 25/12.
Began I almaist for pastyme … to writ this declamation follouing—that is ane form of ditement maid for caus of exercise and priuat studie, as vsis to be in sculis 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 11.
The studentis … salbe … onder cure of … pedagogis … quha sal haif cure of thayr studie 1576 Reg. Privy S. VII 81/2.pl. 1580 Reg. Privy C. III 296.
Discipline is frustrat … and the myndis of the youth drawin away fra thair studyis c1550-c1580 Art of Music 9b.
The traditionis of antiquitie doctouris of music. Quhilk traditionis trow application of all studeis to be haldin autentic 1588 King Cat. 134.
Sic as passis thair tyme … in vaine maters and trifling studies 1596 Dalr. II 32/9.
Nocht lyk a barne, bot lyk a man of jugement and knawlege, he imbracet all studies 1687 Butler Leighton 586.
Some pious and able young men might goe from this house better qualified for the holy ministry, thorrow the blessing of God upon their studdies

4. (The action of studying) a particular branch of learning. Passing into sense 5 below. c1420 Wynt. viii 980.
Quha that lykis that for to wyt To that buke I tham remyt Quhare Maystere Jhon Barbere … Hys [sc. King Robert's] dedis dytyd mare wertusly Than I can thynk in all study a1500 Henr. Thre Deid Pollis 47.
In science, or in lare, In art, mvsik, or in astronomye. Heir still sowld be ȝour study and repair 1490 Irland Mir. I 8/12.
Quhat … proffit is to a king … to … geve his lauboure and study to wisdome sene it is all the steire of his gouernaunce c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxv 4.
To speik of science, craft, or sapience, … Off everie study, lair, or discipline 1562-3 Winȝet I 24/23.
That sa few childer war haldin at the studie of ony science 1570 Leslie 7.
Nocht haiffing the commodite … to exerce my time in the divine study of the scriptures … for lake of buikes 1579 Acts III 179/1.
The studee of theologie 1584 Melvill 189.
Thair childring's ‘berns’ part of geare' in susteining tham at the studie of theologie 1596 Dalr. I 16/24.
Philosophie and grammer and politick studie 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 150/12.
The studdie of … liberall airtis & scyences 1635 Dunkeld Presb. II 349.
That he is of mind … to apply his haill travells and studie in the functione of the ministerie in tyme cumming

5. transf. Effort directed to some end. 14.. Acts I 67/2.
That thai … begyn to eyr and saw for thar awyn proffyt wyth al thar study and mycht 1456 Hay I 81/36.
And sett his hert apon vertu halely and all his study to set tharapon 1456 Hay I 113/32.
Ane gude knycht … suld sett all his study till arm him … and hors him 1456 Hay II 151/14.
He … alluterly sett his hert and his study tobe a forgeare c1460 Thewis Wysmen 355.
Thar study and thar besynes Is al in plays and wantownnes 1533 Boece 177.
The king … gaif his studye to hunting 1641 Acts V (1817) 456/1.
My whole studdie hes beene in the airt of … artealliarie

6. a. A small, private room used for study, reading, etc. or for the secure storage of books, documents and the like; ? part of a room partitioned off for this purpose; a closet. b. attrib. With dure. c. comb. Studdy house, = a above, only attrib. with durris.(a) 1507–8 Treas. Acc. IV 100.
To Johne Forman for ane lok to the kingis latron that standis in the kingis studee 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 175.
Ane small … comptour that was in the study 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 176.
The study witht … ane fyne pane, … ane ald langsadill seit … ane press of aik for bvikkis … ane litil aikkin kist for letteris … ane tabil of the crucifix 1542 Eeles King's Coll. Chapel 27.
Ane other bed, ane buird with traistis. Ane studie, with ane lytil buird, ane lytil cheir, all off fyr 1565 Prot. Bk. J. Scott 25.
In my Ladeis studie with hir buikis and certane vatteris, and four coffarris with hir clayis and sewingis 1572 Glasg. Univ. Mun. III 518.
[Of the common table and common furniture of the College] Ane great burd in the Principallis studie, ane les in the inner chalmer … Studentis studejs to the numer of xxv or thairby Maister Blaise studei new bigget be him … Ane awld studej in Maister Petiris chalmer 1573–4 Treas. Acc. XII 377.
The reparing of the kingis majesteis studie, making of ane windo in the same 1597 Crawford Mun. Invent. I 5.
Register of the vrettis in the ouer studie beginnand at the vpmest shelf 1605 Black Bk. Taymouth 343.
In the studie in the head of the wester tour 1645 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 47.
Ane studie with doore and litle slot yron 1646 Soc. Ant. LVIII 359.
In the stone studie [now a staircase] A suite of … hingings [etc.] 1646 Soc. Ant. LVIII 362.
In the litle studie in that roume 4 large lame pigs, 4 pair of cairds, 3 heckels, 4 guising irons 1660 Honours Scotl. 124.
Collonell J. Ogilvy had ane study in his chamber and I had non in myn, so he desyred me to put in my pockmantle in his closet 1663 Edinb. Test. LXXI 102.
The foirface of ane old studie & fixt bed 1664 Fam. Rose 361 (see Muse n.²). 1673 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 286.
The councell considering that thair is in the studies of the laich councell hous … the iron catbands made for securitie of the ports of the toune 1681 Highland P. I 318.
Ane elne of sarking and sklaiting to the centrie studie above the gate(b) 1512–13 Treas. Acc. IV 475.
I ressavit ij^c li. in ducattis fra the kingis grace in his stedye(c) a1578 Pitsc. I 117/11.
This bischope … causit him [sc. the king] to pas into his stwddie or secreit hous 1687 Butler Leighton 585.
I was doubtfull whither it was convenient or no to send them [sc. the manuscripts]; but … I considder it was his desyre that I should send all that was in his studdie(d) 1636 Knoop & Jones Sc. Mason 61.
Stoodie 1649 Wemyss Chart. II 231.
My best gloufs … laying in the kalbinet in my husbands stoudeib. 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 103.
To the Kingis grace study dure ane new key 1618 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 99.
For tua dow taillit boittis for a cais in a studye dore 1644–5 Misc. Spald. C. V 165.
For mending the tuo lockis of the studie door 1674 Cunningham Diary 47.
To Ja. Black, smith, for a p^r of good bands to my studie doorc. 1611 Reg. Privy C. IX 148.
[He refused to deliver the] keyis of his studdy house durris and utheris secrite placeis of his house

7. A centre of learning; a school or university. 1456 Hay I 221/26.
The law levis all clerkis to vake in scolis and in studyis to leȝ sciences and literature 1456 Hay I 222/21, 25.
Charlis Maygne, … transportit the study out of Rome and brocht it to Paris, … [and] has gevin to the study of Paris sa mony notable privilegis that clerkis suld joys thare 1456 Hay I 226/14.
The study of Florence 1456 Hay I 226/14 (see Studyar(e n.). 1499 Reg. Privy S. I 51/1.
To pas to the partis beȝond sey to Paris or uther studeis 1535 Stewart 30860.
Into Pareis that vniversitie Wes foundit … The quhilk … Of all studie is apersie and flour 1535 Stewart 48786.
To Oxfurd quhair that ane studie was 1535 Stewart 59158.
This famous studie [sc. St. Andrews] in that ȝeir began