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literary

 - 3 dictionary results

lit⋅er⋅ar⋅y

  [lit-uh-rer-ee]
Use literary in a Sentence
–adjective
1. pertaining to or of the nature of books and writings, esp. those classed as literature: literary history.
2. pertaining to authorship: literary style.
3. versed in or acquainted with literature; well-read.
4. engaged in or having the profession of literature or writing: a literary man.
5. characterized by an excessive or affected display of learning; stilted; pedantic.
6. preferring books to actual experience; bookish.
Origin:
1640–50; < L līterārius, litterārius of reading and writing. See letter, -ary

Related forms:
lit⋅er⋅ar⋅i⋅ly, adverb
lit⋅er⋅ar⋅i⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To literary
lit·er·ar·y   (lĭt'ə-rěr'ē)   
adj.  

  1. Of, relating to, or dealing with literature: literary criticism.

  2. Of or relating to writers or the profession of literature: literary circles.

  3. Versed in or fond of literature or learning.

    1. Appropriate to literature rather than everyday speech or writing.

    2. Bookish; pedantic.


[Latin litterārius, of reading and writing, from littera, lītera, letter; see letter.]
lit'er·ar'i·ly (-râr'ə-lē) adv., lit'er·ar'i·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

literary 
1646, "pertaining to alphabet letters," from Fr. littéraire, from L. lit(t)erarius "belonging to letters or learning," from lit(t)era "letter." Meaning "pertaining to literature" is attested from 1749.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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