literary
[ lit-uh-rer-ee ]
/ ˈlɪt əˌrɛr i /
adjective
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.
Nearby words
literal-minded, literalism, literality, literalize, literally, literary, literary agent, literary executor, literate, literati, literatim
Origin of literary
Related forms
Usage note
In this dictionary, the label Literary is assigned to an entry term or definition that is used rarely in contemporary speech or writing except to create a literary, poetic, or evocative effect.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for literary
British Dictionary definitions for literary
literary
/ (ˈlɪtərərɪ, ˈlɪtrərɪ) /
adjective
of, relating to, concerned with, or characteristic of literature or scholarly writinga literary discussion; a literary style
versed in or knowledgeable about literaturea literary man
(of a word) formal; not colloquial
Derived Forms
literarily, adverbliterariness, nounWord Origin for literary
C17: from Latin litterārius concerning reading and writing. See letter
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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