1640s, "pertaining to alphabet letters," from French littéraire, from Latin literarius/litterarius "belonging to letters or learning," from littera/litera "alphabetic letter" (see letter (n.1)). Meaning "pertaining to literature" is attested from 1737. Related: Literariness.
literary criticism
a literary style
when trying to impress someone she spoke in an affected literary style
literal
literalism
literalist
literality
literally
literary
literate
literati
literation
literature
lith
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