I saw a great definition of a lamdan:
אינני קורא למדן רק את זה אשר רמב"ם קשה או רש"י סותרות או תוספות מופרך לא מניח לו לישון
(rough translation: someone who can't fall asleep at night because he is so bothered by a shvere Rambam or a kasha on Tosfos).
How do you define a lamdan?
A real Lamdan would fall asleep, because he found a Terutz to a famous Kasha on a Rambam or Tosafos.
Lamdan used to mean someone who really knows how to learn. One who has learned a lot, knows his learning and is sharp in his learning and knows how to ask incisive questions (and come up with answers). I would say that this definition should still apply although Im sure the requirements have been watered down due to yeridas hadoros.
HaLeiVi: I think the point is that a real Lamdan is the one who cares so much, not necessarily one who can easily come up with answers. Besides, there are stories of big Talmidei Chachamim who would be bothered by Kashos for 20+ years before finding an answer. Not all Lamdanim can easily answer everything.
i am.
They say in the name of the GRA that a lamdan is someone who sits and learns,and not someone who is smart and knows how to learn.He proves it from the word gazlan,if a person is smart and knows how to steal but doesn't steal he isn't called a gazlan until he actually does it.
inImy opinion a lamdan isn't someone who learns a lot OR likes to learn but is someone who is fluent with the gemarah and understands it good. He doesn't necessarily need to shteig.
The shoresh is lomed = to learn. A good learner or genius is usually called a gaon.
sam-just because it has the shoresh doesnt mean its that exact word it can also mean something connected to that word.
Well then, send them to me.
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