Also 4–5 studyer, 5 -yare, stodiar, -yar, -ier(e, -yer. [f. STUDY v.1 + -ER1. Cf. OF. estudieor, -eur.]
† 1. A person who is addicted to or engaged in study; a student. Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 380. A lytille soler, a bedde, a borde, a chaire, and a kandilsiek, þe whiche ben acordynge to a studier or a contemplatyfe man.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 13. Profitable to good studiers and meke [non inutilem studiosis].
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., I. 350. Solitary lyff to stodyers is comfort.
a. 1466. Gregory, Chron., in Hist. Coll. Cit. Lond. (Camden), 133. Collegys of studyers, and othyr collegys of Holy Chyrche.
2. One who studies a specified subject. Const. of, † in. Now rare or Obs.
1593. Q. Eliz., Boeth., I. pr. iv. 8. Wisdom studiers [L. studiosi sapientiae].
1607. T. Sparke, Brotherly Persw. Vnitie, 25. The most diligent studier and searcher of ancient writers.
1671. J. Webster, Metallogr., xii. 161. I … am a continual reader of and studier in the best Authors.
1678. Phil. Trans., XII. 965. The first Studiers of Natural Philosophy commonly so called, were the Greeks.
1793. Monthly Rev., XII. 197. To the studier of Tacitus, it is amusing to observe the contrivances of different translators to vary from each other.
1797. Jane Austen, Pride & Prej., ix. I did not know before … that you were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study.
1820. W. Irving, Sketch Bk., x. (1859), 66. James flourished nearly about the time of Chaucer and Gower, and was evidently an admirer and studier of their writings.
3. Const. † for, of. One who strives after or pursues (an object or end). Now rare.
1597. J. Payne, Royal Exch., 19. Happie be … the studiers for Godlines, and the lovers of God.
c. 1611. Chapman, Iliad, XIII. 202. And these … will serue to fill the hand Of Hectors selfe, that Priamist, that studier for blowes.
1651. Fuller, Abel Rediv., Pareus, 580. He was a great studyer and promoter of the Churches peace.
1710. Shaftesb., Charac., II. ii. (1737), II. 248. The merest Studier of Pleasure,… even Epicurus himself.
1833. T. Hook, Love & Pride, Snowdon, x. III. 111. Although not a devoted studier of effect,… he could not help feeling that he should look very ridiculous, if [etc.].
