sciolousadj.n.

a1400 Against exposing Relics for Gain (BL Add. 24202) in Rev. Eng. Stud. (1989) 40 490 For as myche as þou hast not told þe synful man his synnes, þer he myȝte a turnyd hym fro his wickidnesse and lyuyd, yee, for þou hast not reprouyd hym; and hym, for he synnyde, þe holdyng sciolous.

1622 J. Meredith Sinne of Blasphemie Epist. Ded. sig. A3^v It is a hard matter for him that is but a man, not to erre in many thinges, as being only sciolous in some, [etc.].

1640 J. Howell Δενδρολογια 87 I could wish, that these sciolous Zelotists had more Judgement joynd with their Zeale.

1785 J. Wright Addr. Parl. Tax on Fustian 58 He hath candidly offered to their inspection, his own limited science on this subject..adding to his own sciolous ideas, all the information he hath lately collected from honest, intelligent, and moderate men.

1818 Gentleman's Mag. Mar. 249/1 That genius is of no sex, is an axiom with all the female writers of this sciolous and scribbling age.

1861 Temple Bar Dec. 114 Legros was not the superficial, supercilious, sciolous man many of his countrymen are.

1909 J. B. Alexander Lunarian Professor xii. 217 The conditions of animal life being taught in the schools, not in a sciolous or smattering way but thoroughly and scientifically.

1677 W. Petty Let. 4 Aug. in Petty-Southwell Corr. (1928) i. xviii. 31 What shall I suffer If it please not the censorious and Envious, the Sciolous &c?

1817 D. Hoffman Course Legal Study 136 So manifest is its truth to us, that we must suppose such contrary opinion to be confined to the sciolous alone.

1890 Finding of Gnosis 7 From arts of the sciolous Conned in garish fanes Hold it apart.