Literature
['lɪt(ə)rətʃə] or ['lɪtrətʃɚ]
Definition
(noun.) the profession or art of a writer; 'her place in literature is secure'.
(noun.) the humanistic study of a body of literature; 'he took a course in Russian lit'.
(noun.) creative writing of recognized artistic value.
(noun.) published writings in a particular style on a particular subject; 'the technical literature'; 'one aspect of Waterloo has not yet been treated in the literature'.
Inputed by Huntington--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) Learning; acquaintance with letters or books.
(n.) 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.
(n.) 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.
(n.) The occupation, profession, or business of doing literary work.
Checked by Cathy
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. [1]. Learning, erudition, letters.[2]. The humanities, the Muses, belles lettres, polite literature.[3]. Literary productions, literary works.
Edited by Ivan
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Lore, erudition, reading, study, learning, attainment, scholarship,literary_works
ANT:Genius, intuition, inspiration
Typed by Dominic
Definition
n. the science of letters or what is written: the whole body of literary compositions in any language or on a given subject: all literary productions except those relating to positive science and art usually confined however to the belles-lettres.—adj. Lit′eratured (Shak.) learned having literary knowledge.—Light literature books which can be read and understood without mental exertion: fiction; Polite literature belles-lettres.
Editor: Omar
Examples
- This led his eager mind to delve into Italian literature, and shortly the young workman was not only draughtsman and artist, but something of a man of letters as well. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- A brilliant liter ary man of the present day considers that places in the first ranks of literature are reserved for the doctrinally heterodox. Walter Libby. An Introduction to the History of Science.
- The quarters were small, the staff was composed of two men, and the entire work was confined to making photographs of the cars and parts for advertising literature. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- The world doesn't need any more literature. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- Some of the greatest of Jewish literature was written in Arabic, the religious writings of Maimonides, for example. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Mixed up with a very extensive Manich?an literature are translations of the Christian scriptures and Buddhistic writings. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Paul Emanuel, professor of literature. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- There is frequent recognition in classical literature of a sounder cosmogony. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- In the devotional literature of his cult he is spoken of as the saviour and leader of souls, leading souls to the light and receiving them again. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Mr. Hale was disappointed in his pupil's lukewarmness about Greek literature, which had but a short time ago so great an interest for him. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- Since the Juries made their Reports, the development of cheap literature has been greatly extended. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- And when you speak of music, do you include literature or not? Plato. The Republic.
- Poetry will not exist for Mark, either in literature or in life; its best effusions will sound to him mere rant and jargon. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- In the account previously given nothing was explicitly said about the place of literature and the fine arts in the course of study. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Needless to say, mastery of its literature is regarded by him as a most important preliminary in taking up any line of investigation. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- With the fourteenth century the real history of the European literatures begins. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- For the authorities to which the Church appealed were literatures composed in foreign tongues. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
Checked by Carmen