Etymology : Middle English, from Latin litteratura writing, grammar, learning, from litteratus
Pronunciation : 'li-t&-r&-"chur, 'li-t
Function : noun
Date : 14th century
1. writings having lasting artistic value (i.e. poems, novels, essays, etc.); body of writing from a particular country (or time period, etc.); body of writing dealing with a certain subject; literary work; any printed material; profession of a writer. literature\lit"er*a*ture\ (l&ibreve;t"&etilde;r*&adot;*t&usl;r; 135), n. [f. littérature, l. litteratura, literatura, learning, grammar, writing, fr.littera, litera, letter. see:
letter.].
2. learning; acquaintance with letters or books.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. the occupation, profession, or business of doing literary work.
6. Learning; acquaintance with letters or books.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. The occupation, profession, or business of doing literary work. the profession or art of a writer; "her place in literature is secure" the humanistic study of a body of literature; "he took a course in Russian lit" creative writing of recognized artistic value 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".
10. 1. Novels, plays, and poetry are referred to as literature, especially when they are considered to be good or important. classic works of literature. a Professor of English Literature It may not be great literature but it certainly had me riveted! The book explores the connection between American ethnic and regional literatures.
11. The literature on a particular subject of study is all the books and articles that have been published about it. The literature on immigration policy is almost unrelievedly critical of the state This work is documented in the scientific literature.
12. Literature is written information produced by people who want to sell you something or give you advice. I am sending you literature from two other companies that provide a similar service. Anglo Saxon literature children's literature Elizabethan literature gaucho literature Jacobean literature patristic literature Restoration literature.