Literature

Literature Lit"er*a*ture (l[i^]t"[~e]r*[.a]*t[-u]r; 135), n. [F. litt['e]rature, L. litteratura, literatura, learning, grammar, writing, fr. littera, litera, letter. See {Letter}.] 1. Learning; acquaintance with letters or books. [1913 Webster]

2. The collective body of literary productions, embracing the entire results of knowledge and fancy preserved in writing; also, the whole body of literary productions or writings upon a given subject, or in reference to a particular science or branch of knowledge, or of a given country or period; as, the literature of Biblical criticism; the literature of chemistry. [1913 Webster]

3. The class of writings distinguished for beauty of style or expression, as poetry, essays, or history, in distinction from scientific treatises and works which contain positive knowledge; belles-lettres. [1913 Webster]

4. The occupation, profession, or business of doing literary work. --Lamb.

Syn: Science; learning; erudition; belles-lettres.

Usage: See {Science}. -- {Literature}, {Learning}, {Erudition}. Literature, in its widest sense, embraces all compositions in writing or print which preserve the results of observation, thought, or fancy; but those upon the positive sciences (mathematics, etc.) are usually excluded. It is often confined, however, to belles-lettres, or works of taste and sentiment, as poetry, eloquence, history, etc., excluding abstract discussions and mere erudition. A man of literature (in this narrowest sense) is one who is versed in belles-lettres; a man of learning excels in what is taught in the schools, and has a wide extent of knowledge, especially, in respect to the past; a man of erudition is one who is skilled in the more recondite branches of learned inquiry. [1913 Webster]

The origin of all positive science and philosophy, as well as of all literature and art, in the forms in which they exist in civilized Europe, must be traced to the Greeks. --Sir G. C. Lewis. [1913 Webster]

Learning thy talent is, but mine is sense. --Prior. [1913 Webster]

Some gentlemen, abounding in their university erudition, fill their sermons with philosophical terms. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Synonyms:

Learning, erudition, letters, lore / The humanities, the Muses, belles-lettres, polite literature / Literary productions, literary works

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Literature — is the art of written works. Literally translated, the word means acquaintance with letters (from Latin littera letter). In Western culture the most basic written literary types include fiction and non fiction.DefinitionsThe word literature has… … Wikipedia
literature — lit‧e‧ra‧ture [ˈlɪtrətʆə ǁ tʆʊr] noun [uncountable] 1. MARKETING information about a product, company etc: • The speed quoted in the sales literature is frankly optimistic. • advertising literature … Financial and business terms
Literature.de — ist ein Internet Portal, das sich auf Informationen aus und über den Literaturbetrieb spezialisiert hat. Nach Angaben der Betreiber zählt es mit über 500.000 Besuchern im Monat zu den reichweitenstärksten Literaturplattformen des… … Deutsch Wikipedia
literature — [lit′ər ə chər, li′trəchoor΄] n. [ME litterature < OFr < L litteratura < littera, LETTER1] 1. the profession of an author; production of writings, esp. of imaginative prose, verse, etc. 2. a) all writings in prose or verse, esp. those of … English World dictionary
literature — (n.) late 14c., from L. literatura/litteratura learning, a writing, grammar, originally writing formed with letters, from litera/littera letter (see LETTER (Cf. letter) (n.1)). Originally book learning (it replaced O.E. boccræft), the meaning… … Etymology dictionary
literature — I noun belles lettres. books, classics, information, letters, literary output, papers, printed word, publication, reading matter, store of knowledge, treatises, work, works, writings, written language, written word II index publication (printed… … Law dictionary
literature — [n] written matter, both fictional and nonfictional abstract, article, belles lettres, biography, books, brochure, classics, comment, composition, critique, discourse, discussion, disquisition, dissertation, drama, essay, exposition, findings,… … New thesaurus
literature — ► NOUN 1) written works, especially those regarded as having artistic merit. 2) books and writings on a particular subject. 3) leaflets and other material used to give information or advice … English terms dictionary
literature — /lit euhr euh cheuhr, choor , li treuh /, n. 1. writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays. 2.… … Universalium
literature — noun 1 written works of art ADJECTIVE ▪ classical, contemporary, modern ▪ popular ▪ great ▪ African American, Russian … Collocations dictionary

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Literature

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Literature

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