• n. 文學(xué)；文獻；文藝；著作

來自拉丁語litera,書寫，字母，詞源同letter.引申詞義文學(xué)作品。

literature

literature: [14] Latin littera meant ‘letter’, and was the source of English letter. From it was derived literātus ‘having knowledge of letters’, hence ‘educated, learned’ (source of English literate [15]); and this formed the basis of the further derivative litterātūra, which denoted ‘writing formed with letters’, and by extension ‘learning, grammar’. English took it over partly direct, partly via French littérature. From the same source comes English literal [14].
=> letter, literal, obliterate

literature (n.)

late 14c., from Latin literatura/litteratura "learning, a writing, grammar," originally "writing formed with letters," from litera/littera "letter" (see letter (n.1)). Originally "book learning" (it replaced Old English boccr?ft), the meaning "literary production or work" is first attested 1779 in Johnson's "Lives of the English Poets" (he didn't include this definition in his dictionary, however); that of "body of writings from a period or people" is first recorded 1812.

Great literature is simply language charged with meaning to the utmost possible degree. [Ezra Pound, "ABC of Reading"]

Meaning "the whole of the writing on a particular subject" is from 1860; sense of "printed matter generally" is from 1895. The Latin word also is the source of Spanish literatura, Italian letteratura, German Literatur.

1. He was well acquainted with the literature of France, Germany and Holland.

他對于法國、德國和荷蘭的文學(xué)了如指掌。

來自柯林斯例句

2. Her literary criticism focuses on the way great literature suggests ideas.

她的文學(xué)批評集中關(guān)注的是偉大的文學(xué)作品表達思想的方式。

來自柯林斯例句

3. Some companies have toned down the claims on their promotional literature.

一些公司已降低了宣傳資料中標榜之詞的調(diào)門。

來自柯林斯例句

4. The book is an invaluable aid to teachers of literature.

這本書對于教授文學(xué)的老師來說幫助非常大。

來自柯林斯例句

5. Harriet graduated with a first class degree in literature.

哈麗雅特畢業(yè)時獲文學(xué)一級學(xué)士學(xué)位。

來自柯林斯例句