literature

• n.文学; 文学; 文献; 著作

ラテン語のlitera、書く、手紙、letterの語源から。

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.

彼はフランス、ドイツ、オランダの文学についてよく知っている。

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

彼女の文学批評が集中しているのは、偉大な文学作品が思想を表現する方法だ。

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

一部の会社では、宣伝資料に標榜されている言葉の調子を下げている。

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

この本は文学を教える先生にとって非常に役に立ちます。

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

ハリヤット卒業時に文学一級学士号を取得した。