studiousadj.n.
/ˈstjuːdɪəs/, /ˈstʃuːdɪəs/, U.S. /ˈst(j)udiəs/ A. adj.
1.
a. Of a person: dedicated to study; assiduous in the acquisition of learning. Formerly also with †in, †of.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > learning > learner > qualities of learners > [adjective] > studious
studiousa1382
bookish1542
reading1572
academic1904
swotty1936
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Job Prol. l. 75 Chese eche man þat he wile & proue he hymself more studious [L. studiosum] þan euel willid.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. l. 759 Under him [sc. Mercury] who that bore is, In boke he schal be studious.
c1450 J. Capgrave Life St. Katherine (Arun. 396) (1893) iv. l. 998 In al this world shulde not a man fynde thre..so stodyous in philosophie.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 12 The cause of þis dyuersité is assigned be studious men þat Moises counted nowt þat hundred ȝere in whech Adam ded his penauns.
1529 T. More Dyaloge Dyuers Maters i. i. 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 T. Kyd tr. T. Tasso Housholders Philos. f. 3v It is well seene you are studious of Varro not of Virgil onely.
1638 F. Junius Painting of 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 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ 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 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 42 Mee of these Nor skilld nor studious, higher Argument Remaines. View more context for this quotation
1727 D. Defoe Syst. Magick i. i. 37 The Magicians being a Race of honest studious Men, searching after Wisdom.
1747 J. Wesley Primitive Physick p. xx For studious persons, about eight Ounces of Animal Food..is sufficient.
1827 T. Carlyle State Germ. Lit. in Edinb. Rev. Oct. 335 These questions we must leave candid and studious inquirers to answer for themselves.
1884 Macmillan's Mag. July 182 The acted Shakespearian drama now attracts crowds of studious people, or librarious people at any rate.
1938 Foreign Service Feb. 7/3 He was that quiet, studious lad who got the high marks.
1962 C. Ekwensi Burning Grass iii. 13 A magic that turned studious men into wanderers, that led husbands to desert their wives, Chiefs their people and sane men their reason.
2006 N. S. Dhaliwal Tourism v. 65 My once studious friends now eschewed schoolwork.
b. Of thought, behaviour, action, etc.: of the nature of study or learning; involving or characterized by study.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > learning > study > [adjective]
studiousa1450
a1450 ( tr. Vegetius De Re Militari (Douce) (1988) 159 (MED) Alle oþre emperoures thyn hye wisdam..excelleþ..in loue of studious science [L. studiorum].
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. OOOiiv Meditacion is a profounde or studiouse cogitacion, about any certayn thyng.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene ii. iii. sig. P4v Abroad in armes, at home in studious kynd Who seekes with painfull toile, shal honor soonest fynd.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost viii. 40 So spake our Sire, and by his count'nance seemd Entring on studious thoughts abstruse. View more context for this quotation
1695 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) III. 428 His physitians advise him to forbear all studious businesse because of a rheum fallen in his eye.
1754 D. Hume Let. 17 Dec. (1932) I. 213 I have got into such a recluse, studious habit, that I believe myself only fit to converse with books.
1816 P. B. Shelley Hymn Intell. Beauty 66 They have in visioned bowers Of studious zeal or love's delight Out~watched with me the envious night.
1844 E. B. Browning Lost Bower lx Studious health and merry leisure.
1887 A. Birrell Obiter Dicta 2nd Ser. 157 He would..devote studious hours to getting up the subjects to be discussed.
1903 A. Bennett Leonora viii. 238 She had changed her Liberty dress for the dark severe frock of her studious hours.
1970 J. Dickey Deliverance iii. 147 Drew was hunched forward in a studious position like a man at a desk.
1978 Times 4 Mar. 10/3 The ‘tasting parties’ offered by many [wine] firms..are social rather than studious occasions.
2008 Newcastle (Austral.) Herald (Nexis) 16 Jan. 11 The new library showed its versatility as a public building, lending itself to children's school holiday activities as well as more traditional studious activities.
c. Of a thing, esp. a place: used or suitable for study; suggestive or evocative of study.
ΘΚΠ
society > education > place of education > [adjective] > devoted or suited to study
studiousa1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. iii. 10 Some to the warres, to try their fortune there;..Some, to the studious Vniuersities. View more context for this quotation
1644 J. Milton Areopagitica 31 Pens and heads..sitting by their studious lamps, musing, searching, revolving new notions and idea's.
a1647 T. Habington Surv. Worcs. (Worcs. Hist. Soc.) (1895) I. ii. 238 The society of the learned Seriants and studyous Innes of Court and Chancery.
1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iv. 240 Studious walks and shades. View more context for this quotation
1730 T. Newcomb Blasphemy as Old as Creation 12 Oblig'd to vend, keen Hunger to repel, Sweet savoury Falshoods, from his studious Cell.
1794 Crit. Rev. Feb. 125 Soon from these studious cloisters bursting forth I see the forms sublime of active worth.
a1806 H. K. White Remains (1807) II. 150 When the pale ray Of star-light penetrates the studious gloom.
1853 M. Arnold Scholar Gipsy in Poems (new ed.) 209 And the grave Glanvil did the tale inscribe That thou wert wander'd from the studious walls To learn strange arts.
1932 Times 2 Sept. 13/4 The quiet which reigns in certain studious enclosures in the heart of London, where abatable noises are kept down.
2003 N.Y. Mag. 1 Dec. 50/1 With his finely cut features, Chiclet teeth, and studious glasses, Hemmer, 39, looks like Clark Kent.
2.
a. Of a person: giving careful attention; intent on a purpose or aim; diligent, heedful, solicitous. Chiefly (and in later use only) modifying an agent noun.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > earnest attention, concentration > [adjective]
intentivec1386
intendable1390
studiousa1400
diligentc1400
intendantc1440
suspensec1450
attent1482
heartbounda1586
searchful1594
intent1610
wist1615
wistful1616
intense1640
imminent1641
concentrative1725
well-attending1725
acuminated1786
spell-bound1799
a1400 Cato's Distichs (Fairf.) l. 236 in R. Morris Cursor Mundi (1878) III. App. iv. 1672 (MED) Heuy herted men and stille studious men vmbe-þing þe to fle.
a1475 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi (Cambr. Gg.1.16) f. 55v, in Middle Eng. Dict. (at cited word) The veri lover of Criste and þe studiouse [L. studiosus] folowar of vertue.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 1v We haue thought moste conuenient to set his saiynges first, as of ye which the studious reader maye gather & take suche presidentes of holy and innocent liuyng.
?1589 T. Nashe Almond for Parrat sig. 15 He began to..shew himselfe openly a studious disgracer of antiquitie.
1601 B. Jonson Fountaine of Selfe-love iii. iv. sig. F3 It is the pride of Arete to grace Her studious louers. View more context for this quotation
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary ann. 1620 (1955) II. 2 My Father..was yet a studious decliner of Honors and Titles.
1702 H. Curson Theory of Sci. Illustr. 126 Raphael Volaterraneus a most studious Lover of Histories and Examples, confesses that..he finds very few Eloquent Men to be good Men.
1798 Monthly Mag. Aug. 134/1 The rules given for fingering..refer to general practice, and may be rendered extremely serviceable to a studious observer.
1838 Town 27 Jan. 276 A magsman must of necessity be a great actor and a most studious observer of human nature.
1931 Times 18 Nov. 14/5 A studious researcher into detail rather than a broad and bold generalizer, Hewins was not one of the figures which catch the imagination of his contemporaries.
2006 K. I. McDonald Reading Japanese Film ii. 45 Studious lovers of irony won't miss the reference to a bird whose specialty is taking over other birds' nests.
b. With infinitive: keen, desirous, or careful to do something.
ΚΠ
a1425 Lyf Oure Lady (Windsor) (1985) 82 Marie..was..ful studious [L. studiosior] to reede hooly scripture.
1526 Bible (Tyndale) Titus iii. 8 I wolde thou shuldest certifie that they which beleve God, myght be stodious to go forwarde in goode workes.
1603 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Hist. Descr. Worlde 90 The cittizens are more studious to build for vse, then for pompe.
1667 S. Pepys Diary 20 Aug. (1974) VIII. 392 I find I must provide some things to offer, that I may be found studious to lessen the King's charge.
1755 E. Young Centaur vi, in Wks. (1757) IV. 265 Though studious to do it justice, I have wronged my theme.
1852 J. S. Blackie On Stud. Lang. 35 Be studious to compare the idiom of one language with that of another.
1941 J. Agee & W. Evans Let us now praise Famous Men 399 George winces too, not at all ashamed of his fear, studious to hold it in bounds only for the sake of his family.
2008 D. Hall Unpacking Boxes (2009) 129 Andrew and I sat in the end zone for Michigan football games, and I was studious to explain what was happening on every play.
c. With of, †for, †in: attentive towards or concerned with something specified.
ΚΠ
a1500 tr. A. Chartier Famylyer Dyaloge Freende & Felaw (Sion Coll. London) (1989) 42 (MED) Wheryn schal I parceyve peece whan no man ys studyous for the pryncyples of peece?
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 64 In the often redyng of whiche boke if the lernar be studious.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. iv. f. 20 The Spanyardes..were more studious of sedition and newes, then desyrous of peace and quietnesse.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Cicero in Panoplie Epist. 44 He was very circumspect and studious in his masters businesse.
1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts i. i. sig. B3v You haue well aduis'd me. But..you that are so studious Of my affaires, wholly neglect your owne.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 130 Studious of Honey, each in his Degree, The youthful Swain, the grave experienc'd Bee. View more context for this quotation
1701 W. Wotton Hist. Rome 23 He was studious of avoiding Bustle and Stir.
1725 W. Broome in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer Odyssey I. ii. 117 The work she ply'd; but studious of delay, By night revers'd the labours of the day.
1779 Mirror No. 58 Nor was he less studious in forming her taste for company than for books.
1810 G. Crabbe Borough viii. 113 All he had suffer'd, every former Grief, Made those around more studious in relief.
1850 C. Merivale Hist. Romans under Empire I. ix. 422 Crassus was eminently studious of outward decorum.
1866 T. Carlyle Inaug. Addr. Edinb. 173 Kings..who were anxious about the culture of their populations, and nobly studious of their best benefit.
1889 A. C. Swinburne Study of Jonson 85 He shows himself ungenially observant and contemptuously studious of his models.
1918 Univ. Lect. (Univ. Pennsylvania) 5 342 The modernist..is intensely conscious and amply studious of the past.
1997 P. Jones Ital. City-state (2004) 208 Not only knights, however, were studious of trade.
3.
a. Characterized by or exhibiting careful attention.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > earnest attention, concentration > [adjective] > characterized by attention
studiousa1425
intensive1605
unwanderinga1864
a1425 (a1349) R. Rolle Meditations on Passion (Uppsala) (1917) 44 (MED) Ihesu, graunte me to rede vpon þi boke..and to haue likynge in studiouse abidyng of þat redynge.
?1533 W. Tyndale Expos. Mathew v. f. xx The purenesse of the heart is the consentynge and studyouse purpose to kepe the lawe of God.
c1590 Sir Thomas More (1911) 553 My studious thoughts shall tend the citties good.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) ii. v. 97 Thou art my Heire; the rest, I wish thee gather: But yet be wary in thy studious care. View more context for this quotation
1667 R. Allestree Causes Decay Christian Piety i. 18 Those bodies, who by studious effeminacies and softness have superadded an artificial tenderness to the natural.
1709 M. Prior Poems Several Occasions 239 With dutiful Respect, and studious Fear, Lest any careless Sound offend her Ear.
1798 S. Lee Young Lady's Tale in H. Lee Canterbury Tales II. 207 Both with tender, studious care promoted her every wish.
1879 F. W. Farrar Life & Work St. Paul I. v. xvii. 310 In carrying out his policy, Agrippa paid studious court to the Jews.
1884 Law Times 24 May 62/1 Mr. Haynes has avoided monotony and intricacy of style with the most studious care.
1943 H. Abend My Life in China ii. v. 204 They were..received by a group of Japanese officials, all of whom had been selected with studious care from ranks below those of the Chinese delegates.
1970 R. Allen Skinhead iii. 23 A stationman..slunk back to his post with studious concern for counting the small change people offered in lieu of correct fare.
1991 Texas Monthly Sept. 90/2 Inside, the neighborly hubbub in the grandstands is tempered with studious concentration.
b. Planned with care; studied, deliberate.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > intention > [adjective] > performed with intention
bethoughtc1200
expressa1400
wilfula1400
purposedc1422
purpensed1436
malice prepensed1454
aforethought1472
studiedc1475
setc1485
voluntary1495
deliberate?1527
willing1550
witting1553
propensed1560
fore-intendeda1586
affected1586
designed1586
determinate1586
intended1592
deliberated1594
uncasual1614
recollecteda1616
resolved1624
industriousa1628
intentionate1631
pre-intended1636
advised1642
malice prepense1647
sedentary1647
propense1650
consultive1651
(crime, evil, etc.) of forethought1692
conscious1726
intentionala1729
systematic1746
studious1750
systematical1750
prepensive1752
advertent1832
self-conscious1832
volitive1839
designful1852
purposeful1853
purposive1864
thought-controlled1926
1750 S. 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 W. Scott Kenilworth I. vi. 141 Observe..the studious mystery with which the brightest jewel that England possesses is secluded from the admiring gaze.
1859 G. G. Scott in Civil Engineer & Archit. Jrnl. 22 85/2 A wonderfully studious grouping of the hollows, rounds, and arrises.
1913 F. Pollock Revised Rep. CXL. Introd. 6 The dissent [of two judges] is indicated with seemingly studious obscurity.
2010 Independent 19 Oct. (Viewspaper section) 4/3 These men with their interesting accents, their studious little eccentricities and their suburban-dad looks represent an old, 1950s-style ordinariness.
B. n.
With the and plural agreement. Studious people as a class. Also with of.
ΚΠ
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 2 Macc. ii. 26 Sothely we curiden..that it were delectacioun, or lykyng, of ynwitt to men willynge for to reede; forsothe the studyouse [a1425 L.V. to studiouse men; L. studiosis], that thei miȝten liȝtlyer bytake to mynde; forsothe to alle men reedyng profit be ȝouen.
1557 R. Tottel in Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes Printer to Rdr. sig. A.iv It resteth nowe..to publish, to the honor of the Englishe tong, and for profit of the studious of Englishe eloquence, those workes which the vngentle horders vp of such treasure haue heretofore enuied thee.
1565 W. Allen Def. & Declar. Doctr. Purgatory ii. xii. f. 231v But I would in this one example of praying for the deade, geue the studious a taste of all suche waies, as [etc.].
1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage iii. xv. 319 Let the studious of these things search them in their proper Authors.
1693 J. Dryden in tr. Persius Satires vi. 85 (note) All the Studious, and particularly the Poets,..began to set themselves on Work.
1747 J. Wesley Primitive Physick p. xxi The Studious ought to have stated times for Exercise.
1783 J. C. Lettsom in J. Fothergill Wks. I. 103 To the studious therefore..I would recommend [etc.].
1846 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. in Wks. I. 249/2 The studious, the enthusiastic, the unhardened in politics.
1890 H. Hall Court Life under Plantagenets (1899) ii. 33 In this favourite resort alike of the devout, the studious, and the worldly-minded, they walked to and fro, or sat, as they listed.
1949 A. B. Kuhn Shadow Third Cent. iv. 66 Paganism had offered a..philosophy that must necessarily be limited in its service to the minority segment of the studious and the learned.
1989 J. Hobbs Thoughts in Makeshift Mortuary 145 The student body divided quite neatly into four factions: the studious, the rugger buggers, the social set and the lefties.
2011 H. Jacobson Whatever it is, I don’t like It 11 Don't give libraries a penny..until they present themselves once more as palaces of bookish learning, for the behoof of the studious and the deranged alike.
Compounds
C1.
studious-looking adj.
ΚΠ
1822 Calcutta Jrnl. 2 May 29/1 A studious looking man, with green spectacles, and an antiquarian squint.
1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers xxxvii. 404 A studious-looking young gentleman in green spectacles.
1920 J. C. Squire in J. West Hist. Chartist Movement p. i A tall, white-faced, stooping youth with spectacles and wavy dark hair, studious-looking, rather birdlike.
2000 N.Y. Times 3 Aug. c2/3 Dressed in light blue prison scrubs, the studious-looking Mr. Giacchetto smiled and chatted amiably.
C2. † studious consumption n. Medicine Obsolete rare a wasting disease or condition attributed to excessive study; an instance or case of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > diseases of tissue > wasting disease > [noun] > consumption
phthisic1301
consumptiona1398
phthisis1525
studious consumption1666
consumptiveness1677
colliquitation1720
decay1725
wearing1824
consumptivity1889
1666 G. Harvey Morbus Anglicus x. 21 (heading) Of a Studious Consumption.
1666 G. Harvey Morbus Anglicus xxxii. 197 Next hereunto for obstinacy of cure are an Hypochondriack, Amorous, and a Studious Consumption.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.n.a1382