Also 4–6 experte. [a. OF. expert, espert, ad. L. expert-us, pa. pple. (act. and pass.) of experīrī to try: see EXPERIENCE sb. Cf. APERT, ASPERT.]
I. In active sense.
† 1. Experienced (in), having experience (of). Obs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, II. 1318. Tho that bene expert in love. Ibid. (c. 1386), Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 698. That ye mow taken heede, And ben expert of this … This dicipline, and this crafty science.
14[?]. Prose Legends, in Anglia, VIII. 133. Þe þridde tyme [she] was experte of dethe.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 67. The testimonies of men experte whiche haue writen theyme to haue seen that place.
a. 1556. Ld. Morley, trans. Boccaccio’s De Preclaris Mulieribus, i (1789), 7. [Eve] beynge after experte of the paynes of berynge of children.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 52. Frequent the company of the expert, that by noting their observations … you may [etc.].
1672. Petty, Pol. Anat. (1691), 27. A Protestant Militia of 25000 more, the most whereof are expert in War.
¶ As pa. pple. act. with verbal regimen: Having tested, having had experience of. Obs. (a mere Latinism).
1382. Wyclif, Eccl. viii. 5. Who kepeth the hest, shal not ben expert any thing of euel.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 33 (MS. A). Galion and Auicen and I þat am expert here seiynge, we seie þat [etc.].
1513. Douglas, Æneis, I. iv. 77. The craigis quhar monstrous Ciclopes dwell ȝe ar expert.
2. Trained by experience or practice, skilled, skilful. Const. at, in, † intil, † of, to with inf.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, I. 67. Calcas … in science so experte. Ibid. (c. 1386), Prol., 577. Maystres … That were of lawe expert and curious.
14[?]. Prose Legends, in Anglia, VIII. 143. Men were often expert to socour.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xxxv. 36. He expart wes in-tyl swilk thyng.
1549. Compl. Scot., Prol. 12. Clerkis … ar mair expert in latyne tong nor i am.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., a j b. Wonderfull many places, in the Ciuile law, require an expert Arithmeticien.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., V. 188. Neither are they [Turks] expert Mariners.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1729), I. v. 116. Thick woods, where the Spaniards might easily lay in ambush … at which they are very expert.
1777. Watson, Philip II. (1793), III. XIX. 23. Expert both in the arts of peace and war.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, I. II. 67. Idomeneus expert to wield the spear.
1873. E. E. Hale, In His Name, viii. 69/1. The Florentine was not expert in ecclesiastical matters.
b. Hence of personal qualities or acquirements.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 269 a. In the experte knowelage of warre kepyng.
1563. Shute, Archit., B ij b. To haue experte knowladg in drawing.
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Warrs, 171. The War … grew very hot, not so much by the greatness of the Forces as the expert Valour of the Captains.
† II. 3. In passive sense: Tried, proved by experience. In early use often (after Lat.) as mere pple. Obs.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 119. Whiche thynge was experte … of ii. men.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, III. xiii. 112 a. This same thyng was wel expert and preued.
c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6030. For his [St. Cuthbert’s] help in othir case … þis true monk had expert.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 463. That as well was experte in Fraunce as in the ile of Englande.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., Pref. 1. He that hath the perfyte knowledge of others joye … hath thexpert doctryne of all parylles.
1586. Cogan, Haven Health, xiv. (1636), 39. A perfect water, and expert against melancholy.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. i. 49. His Pylot [is] Of verie expert, and approu’d Allowance.
1612. Enchirid. Med., 156. It is an expert medicine.
