literary — ► ADJECTIVE 1) concerning the writing, study, or content of literature, especially of the kind valued for quality of form. 2) associated with literary works or formal writing. DERIVATIVES literarily adverb literariness noun. ORIGIN originally in… … English terms dictionary
literary — [lit′ər er΄ē] adj. [L litterarius < littera, LETTER1] 1. a) of, having the nature of, or dealing with literature b) of or having to do with books or writing [literary agents] 2. characterized by the more formal, balanced, and polished language … English World dictionary
literary — index literate Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
literary — (adj.) 1640s, pertaining to alphabet letters, from Fr. littéraire, from L. literarius/litterarius belonging to letters or learning, from littera/litera letter (see LETTER (Cf. letter) (n.1)). Meaning pertaining to literature is attested from 1737 … Etymology dictionary
literary — [adj] concerning books belletristic, bookish, classical, erudite, formal, learned, lettered, literate, scholarly, well read; concepts 267,536 Ant. illiterate … New thesaurus
literary — literarily, adv. literariness, n. /lit euh rer ee/, adj. 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… … Universalium
literary — lit|er|ar|y [ lıtə,reri ] adjective usually before noun ** 1. ) involving books or the activity of writing, reading, or studying books: Dublin s great literary tradition a respected literary critic a ) relating to books that are considered to… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
literary — [[t]lɪ̱tərəri, AM reri[/t]] ♦♦♦ 1) ADJ: usu ADJ n Literary means concerned with or connected with the writing, study, or appreciation of literature. Her literary criticism focuses on the way great literature suggests ideas... She s the literary… … English dictionary
literary */*/ — UK [ˈlɪt(ə)rərɪ] / US [ˈlɪtəˌrerɪ] adjective [usually before noun] 1) a) involving books or the activity of writing, reading, or studying books Dublin s great literary tradition a respected literary critic b) relating to books that are considered … English dictionary
literary — lit|e|ra|ry W2 [ˈlıtərəri US ˈlıtəreri] adj [only before noun] [Date: 1600 1700; : Latin; Origin: litterarius, from littera; LETTER1] 1.) relating to literature ▪ a literary prize ▪ literary criticism (=the study of the methods used in writing… … Dictionary of contemporary English
