Show DUNCE WAS MAN OF LEARNING nickname of learned man years ago dunce is generally applied to dull stupid boys the person from whose name the word Is supposed to have been derived was quite a different character it was used as a term ot reproach by the to the followers of who was their antagonist in a religious controversy this johannes was a very learned man who lived about the end ot the thirteenth and beginning of the fourteenth century the english say he was born in northumberland the scotch allege he was born at duns in the mers the neighboring county to northumberland and hence he called he died at cologne nov 8 1308 his fame was so great that when at oxford scholars attended to hear his lectures the were the followers of thomas aquinas a dominican friar celebrated for his learning stray stories |