myEtymology.com: English etymology of literature

Etymology of the English word literature

the English word literature

derived from the Old French word litterature

derived from the Latin word litteratura (alphabet, system of letters; writing; writing, literature; scholarship)

derived from the Latin word litteratus (learned, cultured, erudite; marked, branded, tattooed w)

derived from the Humanistic Latin word littera (letter; letter, epistle)

derived from the Etruscan word littera

derived from the Greek word diphthera, διφθέρα, διϕϑέρα (skin, leather, hide)

derived from the Latin word litterae

derived from the French word literature

derived from the Latin word litteratura (alphabet, system of letters; writing; writing, literature; scholarship)

derived from the Latin word litteratus (learned, cultured, erudite; marked, branded, tattooed w)

derived from the Humanistic Latin word littera (letter; letter, epistle)

derived from the Etruscan word littera

derived from the Greek word diphthera, διφθέρα, διϕϑέρα (skin, leather, hide)

derived from the Latin word litterae

The earliest known usage of literature in English dates from the 14th century.

Word found in Modern English