a. Also 4, 6 studyouse, studiouse, 5–7 studyous, (6 stodious, studeous, studuous). [ad. L. studiōs-us, f. studium: see STUDY sb. and -OUS. Cf. OF. estudieus, mod.F. studieux, It. studioso, Sp., Pg. estudioso.]
1. Assiduous in study; devoted to the acquisition of learning. † Const. in, of.
1382. Wyclif, 2 Macc. ii. 26. Sothely we curiden … that it were delectacioun, or lykyng, of ynwitt to men willynge for to reede; forsothe the studyouse [1383 to studiouse men], that thei miȝten liȝtlyer bytake to mynde; forsothe to alle men reedyng profit be ȝouen.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 110. Under him [Mercury] who that bore is, In boke he schal be studious.
c. 1400. Cato’s Morals, 236, in Cursor M., App. IV. 1672. Heuy herted men, and stille studious men, vmbe-þing þe to fle.
1460. Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 6. The cause of this dyversite is assigned be studious men, that Moises counted now that hundred ȝere in whech Adam ded his penauns.
1528. More, Dyalogue, I. i. (1529), 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.
1583. Kyd, Househ. Philos., Wks. (1901), 243. It is well seene you are studious of Varro, not of Virgil onely.
1638. Junius, Paint. 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. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., 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. Milton, P. L., IX. 42. Mee of these Nor skilld nor studious, higher Argument Remaines.
1727. De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. i. (1840), 36. The magicians being a race of honest studious Men, searching after wisdom.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), p. xix. For Studious Persons, about eight ounces of Animal Food … is sufficient.
1807. Wordsw., White Doe, I. 295. And choice of studious friends had he Of Bolton’s dear fraternity.
1827. Carlyle, Misc. Ess., State Ger. Lit. (1840), I. 81. These questions we must leave candid and studious inquirers to answer for themselves.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Montaigne, Wks. (Bohn), I. 338. The studious class are their own victims: they are thin and pale [etc.].
Comb. 1837. Dickens, Pickw., xxxviii. A studious-looking young gentleman in green spectacles.
absol. 1382. [see above].
1565. Allen, Def. Purgatory, II. xii. 231 b. But I would in this one example of praying for the deade, geue the studious a taste of all suche waies, as [etc.].
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, III. xv. (1614), 319. Let the studious of these things search them in their proper Authors.
1693. Dryden, Persius, VI. Notes init. All the Studious, and particularly the Poets,… began to set themselves on Work.
1747. Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), p. xxi. The Studious ought to have stated times for Exercise.
1783. J. C. Lettsom, Fotheringill’s Wks., I. 103. To the studious Therefore … I would recommend [etc.].
b. Of the nature of, pertaining to, or concerned with learning or study. † Studious consumption: consumption induced by undue application to study.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 233. Meditacyon is a profounde or studyous cogitacyon about ony certeyn thynge.
1599. Spenser, F. Q., II. iii. 40. Abroad in armes, at home in studious kind who seekes with painfull toile, shall honor soonest find.
1644. Milton, Areop., 31. Pens and heads … sitting by their studious lamps, musing, searching, revolving new notions and idea’s.
1666. G. Harvey, Morbus Angl., x. (1672), 28. Of a Studious Consumption.
1667. Milton, P. L., VIII. 40. So spake our Sire, and by his count’nance seemd Entring on studious thoughts abstruse.
1695. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), III. 428. His physitians advise him to forbear all studious businesse because of a rheum fallen in his eye.
1816. Shelley, Hymn Intell. Beauty, 66. They have in visioned bowers Of studious zeal or love’s delight Outwatched with me the envious night.
1832. Brewster, Nat. Magic, iii. 50. With persons of studious habits, who are much occupied with the operations of their own minds, the mental pictures are much more distinct.
1844. Mrs. Browning, Lost Bower, lx. Studious health and merry leisure.
c. Of a place: Devoted to or suited to study.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., I. iii. 10. Some to the warres, to try their fortune there;… Some, to the studious Vniuersities.
1605–47. T. Habington, Surv. Worcestershire (1894), I. II. 238. The society of the learned Seriants and studyous Innes of Court and Chancery.
1632. Milton, Penseroso, 156. But let my due feet never fail, To walk the studious Cloysters pale. Ibid. (1671), P. R., IV. 243. Studious walks and shades.
a. 1806. H. K. White, Time, 86. When the pale ray Of star-light penetrates the studious gloom.
1853. M. Arnold, Scholar Gypsy, xiv. And the grave Glanvil did the tale inscribe That thou wert wander’d from the studious walls To learn strange arts.
2. Giving careful attention; intent on a purpose or object, heedful, solicitous. a. with agent-n.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, II. ix. 50. The very trewe lover of crist and studyous folwer of vertu.
1599. B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., III. iv. It is the pride of Arete to grace Her studious louers.
1655. Stanley, Hist. Philos., III. Xen., viii. (1687), 116/1. Xenophon was a studious Æmulatour of Herodotus, both in words and language.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, init. My Father … was a studious decliner of honours and titles.
b. const. to with inf., of, † for (rare), † in.
1526. Tindale, Titus iii. 8. I wolde thou shuldest certifie that they which beleve God, myght be stodious to go forwarde in goode workes.
1530. Palsgr., 64. In the often redyng of whiche boke if the lernar be studious.
1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind., Ded. (Arb.), 6. You haue bene euer studious for the commoditie of your countrey. Ibid. (1555), Decades (Arb.), 80. The Spanyardes … were more studious of sedition and newes, then desyrous of peace and quietnesse.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 44. He was very circumspect and studious in his masters businesse.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 90. The ciltizens are more studious to build for vse, then for pompe.
1625. Massinger, New Way, I. i. You haue well aduis’d me. But … you that are so studious of my affaires, wholly neglect your owne.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 609. Studious they appere Of arts that polish Life.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 20 Aug. I find I must provide some things to offer that I may be found studious to lessen the King’s charge.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 258. Studious of Honey, each in his Degree, The youthful Swain, the grave experienc’d Bee.
1701. W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, 23. He was studious of avoiding Bustle and Stir.
1725. Pope, Odyss., II. 117. The work she plied; but studious of delay, By night revers’d the labours of the day.
1755. Young, Centaur, vi. Wks. 1757, IV. 265. Though studious to do it justice, I have wronged my theme.
1779. Mirror, No. 58. Nor was he less studious in forming her taste for company than for books.
1810. Crabbe, Borough, viii. 154. All he had suffer’d, every former grief, Made those around more studious in relief.
1850. Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), I. ix. 370. Crassus was eminently studious of outward decorum.
1852. Blackie, Study Lang., 35. Be studious to compare the idiom of one language with that of another.
1866. Carlyle, Inaug. Addr., 173. Kings … who were anxious about the culture of their populations, and nobly studious of their best benefit.
c. Characterized by or exhibiting careful attention.
1532. Tindale, Expos. Matt. v–vii. (? 1550), C j b. The purenesse of the hertes is the consentinge and studyous purpose to kepe the law of God.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 171 b. He admonyshed them that they shuld acknowledge his studious desyre.
c. 1590. Sir T. More (Malone Soc.), 553. My studious thoughts shall tend the citties good.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. v. 97. Thou art my Heire; the rest, I wish thee gather: But yet be wary in thy studious care.
1667. Decay Chr. Piety, i. § 11. 208. Those bodies, who by studious effeminacies and softness have superadded an artificial tenderness to the natural.
a. 1718. Prior, Henry & Emma, 129. With dutiful Respect, and studious Fear, Lest any careless Sound offend her Ear.
1798. Sophia Lee, Canterb. T., Young Lady’s T., II. 207. Both with tender, studious care promoted her every wish.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, I. 310. In carrying out his policy Agrippa paid studious court to the Jews.
1884. Law Times, 24 May, LXXVII. 62/1. Mr. Haynes has avoided monotony and intricacy of style with the most studious care.
d. Planned with care; studied, deliberate.
1750. 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. Scott, Kenilw., vi. Observe … the studious mystery with which the brightest jewel that England possesses is secluded from the admiring gaze.
1913. Sir F. Pollock, Revised Rep., CXL. Introd. 6. The dissent [of two judges] is indicated with seemingly studious obscurity.
