Definition of literary

Reference

	Dictionary
	Encyclopedia
	Thesaurus
	World Factbook
	Spanish Dictionary
	Anatomy
	Conversion Calculator

< literally

literate >

lit·er·ar·y

-r

) KEY

ADJECTIVE:

Of, relating to, or dealing with literature: literary criticism.
Of or relating to writers or the profession of literature: literary circles.
Versed in or fond of literature or learning.
1. Appropriate to literature rather than everyday speech or writing.
2. Bookish; pedantic.

ETYMOLOGY:
Latin litterrius, of reading and writing, from littera, ltera, letter ; see letter

OTHER FORMS:
liter·ari·ly (-râr

-l

) KEY (Adverb), liter·ari·ness(Noun)

Thesaurus: synonyms for literary

Visit our partner's site

Provided by Houghton Mifflin
		eReference -- Download this interactive reference software to your desktop computer