learn

learn
\ \ [OE] Learn comes from a prehistoric West Germanic *liznōjan, which also produced German lernen. This goes back ultimately to an Indo-European *leis- ‘track’, and so seems to carry the underlying notion of ‘gaining experience by following a track’. Very closely related are terms in various Germanic languages for ‘teach’ (German lehren, for instance, and Dutch leeren, Swedish löra, and Danish lære – the last three also mean ‘learn’). English used to have such a verb for ‘teach’ too: lere. It had largely died out by the 19th century, but the related loreknowledge’ [OE] survives.
\ \ Cf.LAST, LORE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • learn — W1S1 [lə:n US lə:rn] v past tense and past participle learned or learnt [lə:nt US lə:rnt] especially BrE ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(subject/skill)¦ 2¦(find out)¦ 3¦(remember)¦ 4¦(change your behaviour)¦ 5 somebody has learned their lesson 6 learn (something) the …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • learn — [ lɜrn ] (past tense and past participle learned [ lɜrnt ] ) verb *** 1. ) intransitive or transitive to gain knowledge or experience of something, for example by being taught: a bright girl who is already learning the alphabet research into how… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Learn — (l[ e]rn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Learned} (l[ e]rnd), or {Learnt} (l[ e]rnt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Learning}.] [OE. lernen, leornen, AS. leornian; akin to OS. lin[=o]n, for lirn[=o]n, OHG. lirn[=e]n, lern[=e]n, G. lernen, fr. the root of AS. l[=ae]ran …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • learn — learn; learn·able; learn·er; learn·ing; re·learn; un·learn; …   English syllables

  • learn — [lʉrn] vt. learned or Chiefly Brit. learnt, learning [ME lernen, to learn, teach < OE leornian (akin to Ger lernen) < WGmc * liznōn (akin to Goth laisjan, to teach) < IE base * leis , track, furrow > L lira, furrow] 1. to get… …   English World dictionary

  • Learn — Learn, v. i. To acquire knowledge or skill; to make progress in acquiring knowledge or skill; to receive information or instruction; as, this child learns quickly. [1913 Webster] Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. Matt. xi. 29. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • learn — lərn vb, learned lərnd, lərnt also learnt lərnt; learn·ing vt to acquire (a change in behavior) by learning vi to acquire a behavioral tendency by learning learn·er n …   Medical dictionary

  • learn´ed|ly — learn|ed «LUR nihd», adjective. showing or requiring knowledge; scholarly; erudite: »a learned professor, learned pursuits. SYNONYM(S): educated. –learn´ed|ly, adverb. –learn´ed|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • learn|ed — «LUR nihd», adjective. showing or requiring knowledge; scholarly; erudite: »a learned professor, learned pursuits. SYNONYM(S): educated. –learn´ed|ly, adverb. –learn´ed|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • learn — (v.) O.E. leornian to get knowledge, be cultivated, study, read, think about, from P.Gmc. *liznojan (Cf. O.Fris. lernia, M.Du. leeren, Du. leren, O.H.G. lernen, Ger. lernen to learn, Goth. lais I know ), with a base sense of to follow or find the …   Etymology dictionary

  • learn — verb. 1. The past form and past participle are in BrE either learned (pronounced lernd or lernt) or learnt (pronounced lernt); learned is more usual as the past form and, in AmE, as both past form and past participle. Examples: • So, what was… …   Modern English usage

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