idiotryn.

1488 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 116/2 The seruing of a bref of inquest of ydeotre.

1597 Act Jas. III c. 66 in Lawes Sc. Parl. (heading) Anent the brieue of Idiotrie and furiositie.

1672 G. Mackenzie Pleadings v. 72 No instance can be given, wherein Fatuity or Idiotry, was ever sustained to be proven after the Idiots death.

1707 T. Goodman Experienc'd Secretary (ed. 4) 94 The Party obliged must by proved..to be..in his or her right Senses at the time of Signing, Sealing and delivering, both in this and the former Cases neither infected with Madness, Lunacy nor Idiotry; for Fools and Madman are not capable of bargaining.

1752 J. Louthian Form of Process (ed. 2) 286 Services of Idiotry and Furiosity to pay [fees] as general Services.

1757 W. Warburton Note Pope's Prol. Sat. 163 I still keep up my correspondence with him, notwithstanding his Idiotry.

1800 Trial J. Hadfield 5 In the case of idiotry, of complete privation of reason, the person stood excused, because he was not blessed with the faculty of judging between right and wrong.

1826 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae xxiv, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Feb. 220 To emancipate the Catholics in order to destroy their religion..is pure idiotry.

1868 Act 31 & 32 Victoria c. 100 §101 The brieves of furiosity and idiotry hitherto in use are hereby abolished.

1887 J. Service Life Dr. Duguid 244 Far frae the carfuffle and idiotry of a thochtless worl'.

1961 San Antonio (Texas) Light 29 Nov. 36/2 Every year I see by the magazines that gift-wrapped idiotry continues on the upswing.

1992 NPR: All Things Considered (transcript of radio programme) (Nexis) 19 June Village idiotry was an ancient, honorable and well-respected craft, just right for younger sons who were not bright enough for the navy, the ministry or even the distillery.