Dunce

A dunce is a person incapable of learning.

The word is derived from the name of the great Scholastic theologian and philosopher John Duns Scotus, also referred to as Doctor Subtillis, or "Subtle Doctor", whose works on logic, theology and philosophy were accepted textbooks in the universities from the 14th century. Duns or Dunsman was a name applied by early opponents to the followers of Duns Scotus, who were less disparagingly called the Scotists. When, in the 16th century, the Scotists obstinately opposed the new learning (i.e., the King James Bible), the term duns or dunce became, in the mouths of the Protestants a term of abuse, a synonym for one incapable of scholarship. Dunces are often comedically shown wearing paper cone hats, known as dunce caps, with the word "dunce" or "dumb", or simply a capitalized "D" on them. Schoolchildren were sometimes compelled to wear a dunce cap and to sit on a stool in the corner as a form of humiliating punishment for misbehaving or for failing to demonstrate that they had properly performed their studies.

See also

• Dunce cap

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

This sociology-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Students Pejorative terms for people Sociology stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР Synonyms: Simpleton, fool, dolt, ignoramus, witling, wiseacre, blockhead, block, numskull, dullard, thickhead, thick-skull, dunderhead, dunderpate, clodpoll, clodpate, beetle-head, bull-head, dull-head, addle-head, logger-head, chuckle-head, jolt-head, lack-brain, shallow-brain, moon-calf, lackwit, halfwit, oaf, changeling, booby, noodle, spooney, tony, nincompoop (colloq.), ninny, ninnyhammer, nonny, gaby, flat, sawney, driveller, noddy, natural, innocent, lout, stick, ass, jackass, donkey, owl, goose, coot, loon, calf, non-compos, stupid fellow, silly fellow Duncarron Dunces and Dangers Look at other dictionaries: Dunce — Dunce, n. [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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English dunce — dunce. Ген Drosophila melanogaster, действие которого связано с контролем некоторых элементов поведения (мутации гена dunce ведут к “укорочению памяти”); характеризуется очень большими размерами, занимая 9 дисков политенной Х хромосомы; в… …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь. dunce — [dʌns] n old fashioned [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: John Duns Scotus (1266? 1308), Scottish religious thinker] someone who is slow at learning things ▪ the dunce of the class …   Dictionary of contemporary English Dunce — (engl., spr. Dönnz), 1) Dummkopf; bes. 2) Gelehrter mit wenig Verstand; daher Dunciade (spr. Dönnßiäd), satyrische Epopöe von Pope über die schlechten Dichter seiner Zeit; auch Gedichte von Pallissot u. Schirach …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon dunce — [ dʌns ] noun count OLD FASHIONED 1. ) HUMOROUS a stupid person 2. ) OFFENSIVE someone, especially a child, who has difficulty learning things …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English dunce — dullard, 1570s, from earlier Duns disciple follower of John Duns Scotus (c.1265 1308), Scottish scholar of philosophy and theology supposed to have been born at Duns in Berwickshire. By 16c., humanist reaction against medieval theology singled… …   Etymology dictionary dunce — [n] stupid person ass, birdbrain*, blockhead*, bonehead*, buffoon, dimwit*, dolt, donkey*, dope, dork*, drip*, dullard, dunderhead*, fool, goof, goof ball*, half wit, idiot, ignoramus, imbecile, jerk, knucklehead*, lame brain*, lightweight*,… …   New thesaurus dunce — ► NOUN ▪ a person who is slow at learning. ORIGIN originally a name for a follower of the 13th century Scottish theologian John Duns Scotus, whose followers were ridiculed by humanists and reformers as enemies of learning …   English terms dictionary dunce — [duns] n. [after DUNS SCOTUS John: his followers, called Dunsmen, Dunses, Dunces, were regarded as foes of Renaissance humanism] 1. a dull, ignorant person 2. a person slow at learning …   English World dictionary dunce —    This word is now associated with a child who finds it difficult to learn anything new. Other children might call a dunce: a block head, a clodpoll, dim wit, dull dick, dullard, dunderpate, numbskull, chump, peabrain, or putty brain, depending… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”