Definitions for literary
ˈlɪt əˌrɛr ilit·er·a·ry

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. literaryadjective

   of or relating to or characteristic of literature

   "literary criticism"

2. literaryadjective

   knowledgeable about literature

   "a literary style"

3. literaryadjective

   appropriate to literature rather than everyday speech or writing

   "when trying to impress someone she spoke in an affected literary style"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. literaryadjective

   Relating to literature.

2. literaryadjective

   Relating to writers, or the profession of literature.

3. literaryadjective

   Knowledgeable of literature or writing.

4. literaryadjective

   Appropriate to literature rather than everyday writing.

5. literaryadjective

   Bookish.

6. Etymology: From littéraire.

Wikipedia(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. literary

   Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include oral literature, much of which has been transcribed. Literature is a method of recording, preserving, and transmitting knowledge and entertainment, and can also have a social, psychological, spiritual, or political role. Literature, as an art form, can also include works in various non-fiction genres, such as biography, diaries, memoir, letters, and essays. Within its broad definition, literature includes non-fictional books, articles or other printed information on a particular subject.Etymologically, the term derives from Latin literatura/litteraturacode: lat promoted to code: la "learning, a writing, grammar," originally "writing formed with letters," from litera/litteracode: lat promoted to code: la "letter". In spite of this, the term has also been applied to spoken or sung texts. Developments in print technology have allowed an ever-growing distribution and proliferation of written works, which now includes electronic literature. Literature is classified according to whether it is poetry, prose or drama, and such works are often further categorized according to historical period, adherence to certain aesthetic features, or genre.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Literaryadjective

   of or pertaining to letters or literature; pertaining to learning or learned men; as, literary fame; a literary history; literary conversation

2. Literaryadjective

   versed in, or acquainted with, literature; occupied with literature as a profession; connected with literature or with men of letters; as, a literary man

3. Etymology: [L. litterarius, literarius, fr. littera, litera, a letter: cf. F. littraire. See Letter.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Literary

   lit′ėr-ar-i, adj. belonging to letters or learning: skilled in learning.—n. Lit′eracy, state of being literate:—opp. to Illiteracy.—adj. Lit′erāte, acquainted with letters of learning: learned.—n. one educated, but not having taken a university degree, esp. a candidate for holy orders who has not been at a university.—n.pl. Literā′tī, men of letters, the learned (sing. forms, Literā′tus, Literä′to).—adv. Literā′tim, letter for letter: without the change of a letter.—n. Literā′tor, a dabbler in learning: a man of letters, a literary man—sometimes in the French form Littérateur.—adj. Lit′erose, distinctively literary.—n. Literos′ity. [L. literarius.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'literary' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2886

2. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'literary' in Adjectives Frequency: #402

Anagrams for literary »

1. trilayer

2. trailery

How to pronounce literary?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say literary in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of literary in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of literary in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of literary in a Sentence

1. Addy Baird:

   It sort of feels like a historic literary moment.

2. Andre Emmanuel Bendavi ben-YEHU:

   “Philosopher, observer, scholar of our time; Original creator accepting no blunders, Emphasizing the gala of the pen, he ponders The tomes of literary jewels for life's rime!”

3. Leo C. Rosten:

   Humor is, I think, the subtlest and chanciest of literary forms. It is surely not accidental that there are a thousand novelists, essayists, poets or journalists for each humorist. It is a long, long time between James Thurbers.

4. Nicholas Alahverdian:

   Consequently, Sylvia Plath’s elevated position among literary figures has extolled her from the depths of depression to the heights of heavenly poetic bliss.”

5. Harold Bloom:

   I realized early on that the academy and the literary world alike-and I don't think there really is a distinction between the two-are always dominated by fools, knaves, charlatans and bureaucrats. And that being the case, any human being, male or female, of whatever status, who has a voice of her or his own, is not going to be liked.

Popularity rank by frequency of use