ppl. a. Now rare. Having sound knowledge or instruction; deeply read or versed (in a subject).
1426. Paston Lett., I. 25. Maister Iohn Blodwelle, a weel lerned man holden.
c. 1449. Pecock, Repr., I. xx. 129. A sad and weel leerned clerk in moral philsophie.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., III. v. 100. With reuerend Fathers and well-learned Bishops.
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VII. xxiv. § 5. And for discharge of a Bishops Office, to be well minded is not enough, no not to be well learned also.
1641. Milton, Prel. Episc., Wks. 1851, III. 90. He that thinks it the part of a well learned man … to be no stranger to the volumes of the Fathers.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xxxiii. 336. A Man he was well learned in the Scripture.
1871. W. Alexander, Johnny Gibb, xii. 90. He’s a weel-meanin’ man, an’ a weel-leern’t.
1887. Morris, Odyss., XI. 432. She, well-learned in sin.
b. Of a weapon: Skilfully directed. poet.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. vii. 11. His well learned speare Tooke surer hould.
