literary
pertaining to or of the nature of books and writings, especially those classed as literature: literary history.
pertaining to authorship: literary style.
versed in or acquainted with literature; well-read.
engaged in or having the profession of literature or writing: a literary man.
characterized by an excessive or affected display of learning; stilted; pedantic.
preferring books to actual experience; bookish.
Origin of literary
1usage note For literary
Other words from literary
- lit·er·ar·i·ly, adverb
- lit·er·ar·i·ness, noun
- non·lit·er·ar·i·ly, adverb
- non·lit·er·ar·i·ly·ness, noun
- non·lit·er·ar·i·ness, noun
- non·lit·er·ar·y, adjective
- o·ver·lit·er·ar·i·ly, adverb
- o·ver·lit·er·ar·i·ness, noun
- o·ver·lit·er·ar·y, adjective
- pre·lit·er·ar·y, adjective
- pseu·do·lit·er·ar·y, adjective
- qua·si-lit·er·ar·y, adjective
- un·lit·er·ar·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for literary
/ (ˈlɪtərərɪ, ˈlɪtrərɪ) /
of, relating to, concerned with, or characteristic of literature or scholarly writing: a literary discussion; a literary style
versed in or knowledgeable about literature: a literary man
(of a word) formal; not colloquial
Origin of literary
1Derived forms of literary
- literarily, adverb
- literariness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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