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literary definition

lit·er·ary (lit′ər er′ē)

adjective

    1. of, having the nature of, or dealing with literature
    2. of or having to do with books or writing literary agents
  2. characterized by the more formal, balanced, and polished language of literature rather than the informal language of speech
    1. familiar with or versed in literature
    2. making literature a profession

Etymology: L litterarius < littera, letter

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

literary Synonyms

literary

modif.

arcane, bookish, belletristic; see learned 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

literary Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • criticism: He is the author of two books of literary criticism.

Modifying Another Word

  • purely: Let purely literary questions about the Bible receive full and fair discussion.

Used with adjective complement

  • publish: This new exception applies to commercially published literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works and published editions ( but not databases ).
literary usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

literary quotes

A neurotic can perfectly well be a literary genius, but his greatest danger isalwaysthat hewill not recognize when he is dull.

-Auchincloss, Louis Stanton

Myclaimtoliterary fameisthat Iusedto deliver meattoa woman who becameT. S. Eliot's mother-in-law.

-Bennett, Alan

I could see now that a literary education did not fit one for the popular novelist's trade.Once you had started using words like flavicomous or acroamatic, because you liked the sound of them, you were lost.

-Wilson

literary quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"literary." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/literary>

APA Style

literary. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/literary

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