grammarian
(grəˈmɛərɪən)
Forms: 4–5 gramarien, 4–7 -ian, 5–6 -yen, (5 gramarion, -yone, -youn, grammaryon, 6 -yan, -yen, -ien), 6– grammarian.
[a. OF. gramarien (F. grammairien), f. gramaire grammar: see -ian.]
1. One versed in the knowledge of grammar, or of language generally; a philologist; often signifying also a writer upon, or teacher of grammar.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 376 Gramariens and devynes. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 161 Donatus þe gramarian. 1412–20 Lydg. Chron. Troy ii. x, To sewe his style in my translation Worde by worde like the construction After the maner of gramariens. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1570) 105 The great Gramarians and pleasaunt Oratours. 1583 T. Watson Poems lxviii. (Arb.) 104 Suidas mentioned an other Telephus, an excellent Grammarian of Pergamus. 1600 O. E. Rep. Libel i. i. 9 Not vnlike hungrie Grammarians, that are descanting still of the calamities of Troie, and yet see not their owne domesticall miseries. 1643 Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. ii. §8, I have seene a Grammarian toure, and plume himselfe over a single line in Horace. 1681 Nevile Plato Rediv. 123, I know some Criticks, who are rather Grammarians than Lawyers, have made a distinction between elegerim and elegero. a 1704 T. Brown Sat. Antients (1730) I. 22 They have commented upon him like grammarians not philosophers. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v., The denomination grammarian is, like that of critic, now frequently used as a term of reproach; a mere grammarian; a dry, plodding grammarian, etc. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. 19 May, They serve only as exceptions; which, in the grammarian's phrase, confirm and prove a general canon. 1798 H. K. White On being confined at school iii, All that arithmeticians know, Or stiff grammarians quaintly teach. 1861 Hook Lives Abps. (1869) I. vii. 436 The homilies of Elfric the Grammarian. 1876 J. Grant Burgh Sch. Scotl. ii. xiii. 359 note, He educated a grammarian not inferior to himself. |
2. † a. A pupil engaged in the study of grammar; a grammar-school boy. Obs.
| 1571 Vestry Minutes St. Olave's, Southwark in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden) 65 He should have twentye marks by the yere..to teache so many gramaryens as we think shall be found meet for the same. 1607 in Hist. Wakefield Gram. Sch. (1892) 71 Because this schole is not ordained for petties but for grammarians. |
b. A member of the class named ‘Grammar’ in certain Jesuit schools or colleges.
| 1705 in Ushaw Mag. (1903) Dec. 298. 1837 J. C. Fisher Ibid. (1904) Dec. 250 In the cyphering school with the Grammarians and High Fig[ures]. 1904 Ibid. Mar. 98. |
3. attrib. and Comb.
| 1586 Warner Alb. Eng. v. xxvii. (1589) 119 Grammarian⁓like, in order words significant to speake. 1853 Whewell in Todhunter Acct. W.'s Writ. (1876) II. 376 The absurd iniustice of our grammarian critics. |
Hence graˈmmarianism [see -ism], the principles or practice of a grammarian.
| 1846 in Worcester, quoting Ch[ristian] Ob[server]. Hence in later Dicts. |