lesson

LES'SON, n. les'n. [L. lectio, from lego, to read.]

1. Any thing read or recited to a teacher by a pupil or learner for improvement; or such a portion of a book as a pupil learns and repeats at one time. The instructor is pleased when his pupils recite their lessons with accuracy and promptness.

2. A portion of Scripture read in divine service. Thus endeth the first lesson.

3. A portion of a book or manuscript assigned by a preceptor to a pupil to be learnt, or for an exercise; something to be learnt. Give him his lesson.

4. Precept; doctrine or notion inculcated.

Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach her not an evil lesson against thyself.

5. Severe lecture; reproof; rebuke.

She would give her a lesson for walking so late.

6. Tune written for an instrument.

7. Instruction or truth, taught by experience. The lessons which sickness imparts, she leaves to be practiced when health is established.

LES'SON, v.t. les'n. To teach; to instruct.

Children should be lessoned into a contempt and detestation of this vice.