Literary describes or relates to books and writing, especially in a more formal, aesthetic, or refined sense. It often refers to works or styles valued in literature, scholarship, or criticism, rather than everyday speech or practical writing. The term can also denote a focus on the literary arts rather than non-fiction or journalism.
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"The literary critic debated the novel's use of symbolism."
"Her lectures blended literary theory with historical context."
"He favored literary prose over colloquial storytelling."
"The festival celebrated classic and contemporary literary works."
Literary comes from Medieval Latin litterarius, meaning 'of letters, pertaining to letters' (littera in Latin means 'letter' or 'literature'). The root littera broadened in Old French to literaire and then into English as literary, shaping the sense of relating to letters, literature, and scholarly writing. Early English usage in the 14th–15th centuries connected the term to learned writing and textual study, expanding to denote anything pertaining to literature as an art form. Over time, it acquired further connotations of refined style and artistic merit, distinguishing works intended for literary criticism and aesthetic appreciation from more functional, everyday prose.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "literary" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "literary" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "literary"
-ary sounds
-try sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈlɪtərˌɛri/ (US) or /ˈlɪtərəri/ (UK). The primary stress sits on the first syllable LI-, with a secondary stress or slight emphasis on -er- before -ary in many speaking styles. Start with a crisp 'LIT' sound, then a relaxed 'ər' for the second syllable, and finish with a clear 'ə-ri' or 'eri' ending depending on accent. Audio references: you can compare pronunciations on Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries to hear the two-stress pattern.
Common errors include: 1) Flattening the second syllable so it sounds like LI-TE-rary with even stress; correct by keeping a light, secondary emphasis on -er- before -ary. 2) Dropping the 'r' in non-rhotic accents leading to 'lit-uh-uh-ree' vs 'lit-er-uh-ree'; maintain /r/ before vowels in rhotic accents or use a linking /ɹ/ as appropriate. 3) Skipping the subtle /ə/ in the middle 'ter' causing 'lit-err-ary' instead of the neutral schwa. Practice with the IPA guide and listen to native models.
In US English, you’ll typically hear /ˈlɪtərˌɛri/ with a rhotic /r/ sound in all relevant positions. UK English tends toward /ˈlɪtəri/ or /ˈlɪtəəri/ with a weaker or non-rhotic when linking, depending on the speaker, but most careful speech keeps an /r/ before vowels. Australian English features /ˈlɪtəɹəri/ with a pronounced but slightly softened /ɹ/ and a longer vowel in the first syllable. In all variants, preserve the two primary syllables before the final -ary vowel and keep the /ər/ as a reduced syllable in non-stressed positions.
The difficulty comes from multi-syllabic rhythm and the subtle vowel reductions: the second syllable contains a schwa or a reduced vowel, and the 'er' cluster before the final '-ary' can be easily mispronounced as a full, stressed syllable. Also, the sequence '-ter-ary' requires a short, crisp middle vowel and careful linking to the final 'ary.' Mastery hinges on accurate vowel reduction, correct stress placement, and consistent rhotic handling across accents.
A distinctive feature is the two-part secondary stress pattern where the first syllable carries primary stress while the second syllable receives a lighter emphasis due to the following unstressed -ary ending. This creates an audible triad: LI - ter - ary, with careful timing to avoid rushing the final -ary. Paying attention to the schwa in the middle and maintaining a crisp recovery into the final vowel helps preserve natural, scholarly pronunciation.
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