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Webster 1913 Edition

Dunce

Dunce

,
Noun.
[From Joannes
Duns
Scotus, a schoolman called the
Subtle Doctor
, who died in 1308. Originally in the phrase “a Duns man”. See Note below.]
One backward in book learning; a child or other person dull or weak in intellect; a dullard; a dolt.
I never knew this town without
dunces
of figure.
Swift.
☞ The schoolmen were often called, after their great leader Duns Scotus, Dunsmen or Duncemen. In the revival of learning they were violently opposed to classical studies; hence, the name of Dunce was applied with scorn and contempt to an opposer of learning, or to one slow at learning, a dullard.

Webster 1828 Edition

Dunce

DUNCE

,
Noun.
Duns. [G.] A person of weak intellects; a dullard; a dolt; a thickskull.
I never knew this town without dunces of figure.

Definition 2024

dunce

dunce

See also: dūncè

English

Noun

dunce ‎(plural dunces)

  1. One backward in book learning; a child or other person dull or weak in intellect; a dullard; a dolt.

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. 1 2 “dunce”, Wordorigins.org, Dave Wilton, Sunday, June 11, 2006.

Etymology

1530, eponymous, from John Duns Scotus (circa 1265–1308).[1]

Scotus was ironically a well-known Scottish thinker. His followers, however, opposed the philosophers of the Renaissance, and thus "dunce" was first used to describe someone rejecting new knowledge in 1530; later, any stupid person.[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /dʌns/
  • Rhymes: -ʌns

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