n. [ Cf. F. assientiste, Sp. asentista. ] A shareholder of the Assiento company; one of the parties to the Assiento contract. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. One learned in science; a scientific investigator; one devoted to scientific study; a savant. [ Recent ] [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ Twenty years ago I ventured to propose one [ a name for the class of men who give their lives to scientific study ] which has been slowly finding its way to general adoption; and the word scientist, though scarcely euphonious, has gradually assumed its place in our vocabulary. B. A. Gould (Address, 1869). [ 1913 Webster ]