Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Something to be learned.
  • noun A period of instruction; a class.
  • noun An assignment or exercise in which something is to be learned.
  • noun The act or an instance of instructing; teaching.
  • noun An experience, example, or observation that imparts new knowledge or understanding.
  • noun The knowledge or wisdom so acquired.
  • noun A reading from the Bible or other sacred text as part of a religious service.
  • transitive verb To teach a lesson to; instruct.
  • transitive verb To rebuke or reprimand.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A reading; a part of a book or writing read (originally aloud) at one time for information or instruction.
  • noun Specifically A portion of Scripture or other sacred writing appointed to be read during divine service.
  • noun Something to be learned at one time; a task assigned for study and recitation; a division of a text-book, or a particular portion of knowledge of any kind, constituting a single exercise for a pupil.
  • noun Instruction conveyed to a pupil at a set time: as, to give lessons in drawing or music.
  • noun Something learned, or that may be learned; a special piece of knowledge gained or imparted; an inculcation serving for guidance or for warning.
  • noun Severe admonition; reproof; rebuke.
  • To give a lesson or lessons to; teach; instruct; prompt.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To teach; to instruct.
  • noun Anything read or recited to a teacher by a pupil or learner; something, as a portion of a book, assigned to a pupil to be studied or learned at one time.
  • noun That which is learned or taught by an express effort; instruction derived from precept, experience, observation, or deduction; a precept; a doctrine.
  • noun A portion of Scripture read in divine service for instruction.
  • noun A severe lecture; reproof; rebuke; warning.
  • noun (Mus.) An exercise; a composition serving an educational purpose; a study.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
  • noun A learning task assigned to a student; homework.
  • noun Something learned or to be learned.
  • noun Something that serves as a warning or encouragement.
  • noun A section of the Bible or other religious text read as part of a divine service.
  • verb To give a lesson to; to teach.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the significance of a story or event
  • noun punishment intended as a warning to others
  • noun a unit of instruction
  • noun a task assigned for individual study

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English lessoun, from Old French leson, from Latin lēctiō, lēctiōn-, a reading, from lēctus, past participle of legere, to read; see leg- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French leçon, from Latin lēctiō ("a reading"), from legō ("I read, I gather").

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