studious, a.
(ˈstjuːdɪəs)
Also 4, 6 studyouse, studiouse, 5–7 studyous, (6 stodious, studeous, studuous).
[ad. L. studiōs-us, f. studium: see study n. and -ous. Cf. OF. estudieus, mod.F. studieux, It. studioso, Sp., Pg. estudioso.]
1. Assiduous in study; devoted to the acquisition of learning. † Const. in, of.
| 1382 Wyclif 2 Macc. ii. 26 Sothely we curiden..that it were delectacioun, or lykyng, of ynwitt to men willynge for to reede; forsothe the studyouse [1388 to studiouse men], that thei miȝten liȝtlyer bytake to mynde; forsothe to alle men reedyng profit be ȝouen. 1390 Gower Conf. III. 110 Under him [Mercury] who that bore is, In boke he schal be studious. c 1400 Cato's Morals 236 in Cursor M. App. iv. 1672 Heuy herted men, and stille studious men, vmbe-þing þe to fle. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. (Rolls) 6 The cause of this dyversite is assigned be studious men, that Moises counted nowt that hundred ȝere in whech Adam ded his penauns. 1528 More Dyalogue i. i. (1529) 3 b/2 Master Tindall..was..a man of ryght good lyuynge, studyouse & well lerned in scrypture. 1553 T. Wilson (title) The Art of Rhetorique, for the vse of all such as are studious of Eloquence. 1588 Kyd Househ. Philos. Wks. (1901) 243 It is well seene you are studious of Varro, not of Virgil onely. 1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 29 Imitation was able to bring a studious Novice to such grounds of Art as had been put in practice by them that were before him. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. ii. ii. §6 For these..of a long time had been very studious of Geometry, as the Phœnicians of Arithmetick, and the Chaldæans of Astronomy. 1667 Milton P.L. ix. 42 Mee of these Nor skilld nor studious, higher Argument Remaines. 1727 De Foe Syst. Magic i. i. (1840) 36 The magicians being a race of honest studious Men, searching after wisdom. 1747 Wesley Prim. Physick (1762) p. xix, For Studious Persons, about eight ounces of Animal Food..is sufficient. 1807 Wordsw. White Doe i. 295 And choice of studious friends had he Of Bolton's dear fraternity. 1827 Carlyle Misc. Ess., State Ger. Lit. (1840) I. 81 These questions we must leave candid and studious inquirers to answer for themselves. 1847 Emerson Repr. Men, Montaigne Wks. (Bohn) I. 338 The studious class are their own victims: they are thin and pale [etc.]. |
| Comb. 1837 Dickens Pickw. xxxviii, A studious-looking young gentleman in green spectacles. |
| absol. 1382 [see above]. 1565 Allen Def. Purgatory ii. xii. 231 b, But I would in this one example of praying for the deade, geue the studious a taste of all suche waies, as [etc.]. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage iii. xv. (1614) 319 Let the studious of these things search them in their proper Authors. 1693 Dryden Persius vi. Notes init., All the Studious, and particularly the Poets,..began to set themselves on Work. 1747 Wesley Prim. Physick (1762) p. xxi, The Studious ought to have stated times for Exercise. 1783 J. C. Lettsom Fotheringill's Wks. I. 103 To the studious therefore..I would recommend [etc.]. |
b. Of the nature of, pertaining to, or concerned with learning or study.
† studious consumption: consumption induced by undue application to study.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 233 Meditacyon is a profounde or studyous cogitacyon about ony certeyn thynge. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. iii. 40 Abroad in armes, at home in studious kind Who seekes with painfull toile, shall honor soonest find. 1644 Milton Areop. 31 Pens and heads..sitting by their studious lamps, musing, searching, revolving new notions and idea's. 1666 G. Harvey Morbus Angl. x. (1672) 28 Of a Studious Consumption. 1667 Milton P.L. viii. 40 So spake our Sire, and by his count'nance seemd Entring on studious thoughts abstruse. 1695 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) III. 428 His physitians advise him to forbear all studious businesse because of a rheum fallen in his eye. 1816 Shelley Hymn Intell. Beauty 66 They have in visioned bowers Of studious zeal or love's delight Out⁓watched with me the envious night. 1832 Brewster Nat. Magic iii. 50 With persons of studious habits, who are much occupied with the operations of their own minds, the mental pictures are much more distinct. 1844 Mrs. Browning Lost Bower lx, Studious health and merry leisure. |
c. Of a place: Devoted to or suited to study.
| 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. iii. 10 Some to the warres, to try their fortune there;..Some, to the studious Vniuersities. 1605–47 T. Habington Surv. Worcestershire (1894) I. ii. 238 The society of the learned Seriants and studyous Innes of Court and Chancery. 1632 Milton Penseroso 156 But let my due feet never fail, To walk the studious Cloysters pale. 1671 ― P.R. iv. 243 Studious walks and shades. a 1806 H. K. White Time 86 When the pale ray Of star-light penetrates the studious gloom. 1853 M. Arnold Scholar Gipsy xiv, And the grave Glanvil did the tale inscribe That thou wert wander'd from the studious walls To learn strange arts. |
2. Giving careful attention; intent on a purpose or object, heedful, solicitous.
a. with agent-n.
| c 1450 tr. De Imitatione ii. ix. 50 The very trewe lover of crist and studyous folwer of vertu. 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. iii. iv, It is the pride of Arete to grace Her studious louers. 1655 Stanley Hist. Philos. iii. Xen. viii. (1687) 116/1 Xenophon was a studious æmulatour of Herodotus, both in words and language. a 1700 Evelyn Diary init., My Father..was a studious decliner of honours and titles. |
b. const. to with inf.,
of,
† for (rare),
† in.
| 1526 Tindale Titus iii. 8, I wolde thou shuldest certifie that they which beleve God, myght be stodious to go forwarde in goode workes. 1530 Palsgr. 64 In the often redyng of whiche boke if the lernar be studious. 1553 Eden Treat. New Ind. Ded. (Arb.) 6 You haue bene euer studious for the commoditie of your countrey. 1555 ― Decades (Arb.) 80 The Spanyardes..were more studious of sedition and newes, then desyrous of peace and quietnesse. 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 44 He was very circumspect and studious in his masters businesse. 1601 R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 90 The cittizens are more studious to build for vse, then for pompe. 1625 Massinger New Way i. i, You haue well aduis'd me. But..you that are so studious Of my affaires, wholly neglect your owne. 1667 Milton P.L. xi. 609 Studious they appere Of arts that polish Life. 1667 Pepys Diary 20 Aug., I find I must provide some things to offer that I may be found studious to lessen the King's charge. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iv. 258 Studious of Honey, each in his Degree, The youthful Swain, the grave experienc'd Bee. 1701 W. Wotton Hist. Rome 23 He was studious of avoiding Bustle and Stir. 1725 Pope Odyss. ii. 117 The work she plied; but studious of delay, By night revers'd the labours of the day. 1755 Young Centaur vi. Wks. 1757 IV. 265 Though studious to do it justice, I have wronged my theme. 1779 Mirror No. 58 Nor was he less studious in forming her taste for company than for books. 1810 Crabbe Borough viii. 154 All he had suffer'd, every former grief, Made those around more studious in relief. 1850 Merivale Rom. Emp. (1865) I. ix. 370 Crassus was eminently studious of outward decorum. 1852 Blackie Study Lang. 35 Be studious to compare the idiom of one language with that of another. 1866 Carlyle Inaug. Addr. 173 Kings..who were anxious about the culture of their populations, and nobly studious of their best benefit. |
c. Characterized by or exhibiting careful attention.
| 1532 Tindale Expos. Matt. v-vii. (? 1550) C j b, The purenesse of the hertes is the consentinge and studyous purpose to kepe the law of God. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 171 b, He admonyshed them that they shuld acknowledge his studious desyre. c 1590 Sir T. More (Malone Soc.) 553 My studious thoughts shall tend the citties good. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, ii. v. 97 Thou art my Heire; the rest, I wish thee gather: But yet be wary in thy studious care. 1667 Decay Chr. Piety i. §11. 208 Those bodies, who by studious effeminacies and softness have superadded an artificial tenderness to the natural. a 1718 Prior Henry & Emma 129 With dutiful Respect, and studious Fear, Lest any careless Sound offend her Ear. 1798 S. Lee Canterb. T., Young Lady's T. II. 207 Both with tender, studious care promoted her every wish. 1879 Farrar St. Paul I. 310 In carrying out his policy Agrippa paid studious court to the Jews. 1884 Law Times 24 May LXXVII. 62/1 Mr. Haynes has avoided monotony and intricacy of style with the most studious care. |
d. Planned with care; studied, deliberate.
| 1750 Johnson Rambler No. 77 ¶14 For the frigid villany of studious lewdness, for the calm malignity of labored impiety, what apology can be invented? 1821 Scott Kenilw. vi, Observe..the studious mystery with which the brightest jewel that England possesses is secluded from the admiring gaze. 1913 Sir F. Pollock Revised Rep. CXL. Introd. 6 The dissent [of two judges] is indicated with seemingly studious obscurity. |