entry
literature
/ˈlɪtərətʃər/Written works, especially as an art form
From Latin liter (letter).
from Latin literatura / litteratura "learning, a writing, grammar," originally "writing formed with letters,"
Word Ancestry
from Latin literatura / litteratura "learning, a writing, grammar," originally "writing formed with letters,"
Before it meant novels on a shelf, this word was basically schoolroom stuff: "book-learning." Medieval students who wrestled with Latin grammar were living inside the older meaning, because the whole family comes from the humble little letter, littera. That same Latin root also hides inside words like literal, literacy, and alliterate, so literature is really the grandchild of alphabet-tending. By the early 15th century, English had borrowed it as litterature, and only much later did it climb from "learning" to "the art of great writing." So every time we say literature, we’re hearing an old classroom whisper that somehow grew into a cathedral.
The Story
Before it meant novels on a shelf, this word was basically schoolroom stuff: "book-learning." Medieval students who wrestled with Latin grammar were living inside the older meaning, because the whole family comes from the humble little letter, littera. That same Latin root also hides inside words like literal, literacy, and alliterate, so literature is really the grandchild of alphabet-tending. By the early 15th century, English had borrowed it as litterature, and only much later did it climb from "learning" to "the art of great writing." So every time we say literature, we’re hearing an old classroom whisper that somehow grew into a cathedral.
Kin & Kindred
From 'liter'·letter; writing
Derived Terms
English words from this root
Sources
Etymonline
Free Dictionary
Urban Dictionary