English Explanatory Dictionary

literate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Able to read and write; having literacy.
  2. Knowledgeable in literature, writing; literary; well-read.
  3. Which is used in writing (of a language or dialect).
  4. Able to understand and evaluate something.
noun
  1. A person who is able to read and write.
  2. A person who was educated but had not taken a university degree; especially a candidate to take holy orders.

Pronunciation

/ˈlɪtəɹət/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-literate.wav

Word forms

literate more literate most literate litterate literates

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English litterate, borrowed from Latin lītterātus, līterātus, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix). Doublet of literato and literatus. Displaced native Old English stæfwīs.

Antonyms

illiterate

Related words

illiterate letter literacy literal literary literature

Derived words

aliterate antiliterate biliterate cineliterate computerate computer literate cyberliterate ecoliterate e-literate food-literate graphicate hyperliterate literately literateness literate programming literatesque literatize metaliterate monoliterate multiliterate nonliterate pluriliterate postliterate preliterate protoliterate quasiliterate semiliterate subliterate superliterate technoliterate triliterate unliterate
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