larn

English

Etymology

A variant of standard English learn, possibly continuing Middle English larnen, a variant of lernen (“to learn”). Compare Scots larn. More at learn.

Verb

larn (third-person singular simple present larns, present participle larnin, simple past and past participle larned or larnt)

  1. (Northern England, especially Geordie) To learn.
  2. (Northern England, especially Geordie, Appalachia, near archaic) To teach.
    Larn yersel te taalk propa like!
    • 1954, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring:
      A bump of the boot to the seat, Tom thought, would be the way to larn him.

References

  • Bill Griffiths, editor (2004), “larn”, in A Dictionary of North East Dialect, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear: Northumbria University Press, →ISBN.
  • Frank Graham, editor (1987), “LARN”, in The New Geordie Dictionary, Rothbury, Northumberland: Butler Publishing, →ISBN.
  • Northumberland Words, English Dialect Society, R. Oliver Heslop, 1893–4
  • Todd's Geordie Words and Phrases, George Todd, Newcastle, 1977[1]
  • Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English (Montgomery, M. & J. Hall, 2004, U. of Tennessee Press)

Anagrams

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