Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Unlernit, -leirnit, -learnit, ppl. adj. Also: unlerneit, -ed, -learn(e)d, -leirnet, onlernit, -et, -ed, -learnit, -et, -ed, -leirned. [Late ME and e.m.E. unlerned (c1400), vn-lernyd (c1500), vnlearned (1526); Lernit ppl. adj.] Of persons: Devoid of learning; uneducated; ignorant. Also absol. as n. pl., (the) uneducated people. b. transf. Of things: Characterised by lack of learning; unskilful. Cf. Unlerit ppl. adj.(a) c1552 Lynd. Mon. 636.
Unlernit peple … heir the euangell soung, Nocht knawyng quhat the preist dois sing nor say 1551 Hamilton Cat. 41.
Ye that ar simple and unleirnit men and wemen suld expresly beleif al the artickils of your Crede 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 131.
Albeit the sayingis be barbour and commoun, the rycht understanding of the samyn servis mekle for men unlearnit 1558 Q. Kennedy Tractive 149.
Walde God men unlearnit … wer habyll to reid the scripturis 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 8/22.
Vnlearned men (being naturallie curious, and lacking the true knowledge of God) findes these practises to prooue true … by the power of the Devill for deceauing men c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 12.
Vnlearnd 1581 Burne Disput. 171.
The vse of imagis seruis mekil for edification … of the vnlearned people 1573-1600 King Cat. in Cath. Tr. 206/8.
The malice and ignorance quhairby the Caluiniane ministers abuses the simple and vnlerned peple 1596 Dalr. II 382/6.
Paul Meffen a baxter, Harlau a tailȝeour, Johne Douglas outher Grant, ane apostat of a Carmelit, and sum vther proud clattereris vnleirnet 1599 Glasgow Barbers 9.
The grit abuisis … comitted … be ignorant unskilled and unlernit personis a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1668.
Unlearned mediciners and unskilful midwifs slayeis manie persons(b) 1554 Misc. Bann. C. III 82.
We protest that ȝour … maiestie will hawe ws efter the mener of our ingine and capasite of oure sensis rude and onlernit excusit a1561 Q. Kennedy Breif Tract. (ed.) 145/8.
The vickit heresy of Arrius … approvin be so mony baith learnet and onlearnet, he and law degre a1578 Pitsc. II 68/21.
Onlearned a1578 Pitsc. II 136/32.
Onleirnedabsol. c1552 Lynd. Mon. 542.
Tyll vnlernit I wald the cause wer kend Off our most miserabyll trauell and torment 1562-3 Winȝet I 61/19.
That the vnleirnit mot haif sum defence aganis the erroneous and contentious pleidaris quha … ithanlie labouris to subuert the sillie semple anis 1568 Skeyne Descr. Pest 4.
To expres the sam in sic langage as the unlernit may be als weil satisfyit as masteris of clargie 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 85/19.
Of thais things quhairin thair is sum difficil to be vnderstand, quhilk the onlernet and inconstant deprauats and abusis to thair aune perdition 1588 King Cat. Sig. i iij.
Vnlerneit c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2327.
We, be counsall of clargye, Hes lycence to mak imagerye; Quhilk of vnleirnit bene the buikis [etc.]b. 1570 Leslie 243.
He wald not suffer thame to cum onder the cuir and medicine of strangers in case thay mycht haif hapinnit in sum onrecoverabill inconvenient, ather be evill drogges or onlerned mixtour thairof 1570 Leslie 301.
To … conclude this my ruid and onlearnit wark, not worthye in name of ane cronicle