1. lit'eral: liter + al = relating to the letter of a thing; that is, exact to the letter.
2. lit'erary: liter + ary = pertaining to letters or learning.
3. obliterate: ob + liter + ate = to cause letters to be rubbed out: hence, to rub out, in general.
4. lit'erature: through Lat. n. literatura = the collective body of literary works.
5. illit'erate: il (for in, not) + liter + ate = of the nature of one who does not know his letters.
EXERCISE.
(1.) Define what is meant by a "literal translation."
(2.) Give a synonymous expression for a "literary man."—Compose a sentence containing the terms "literary society."
(3.) Give a synonym of "obliterate" in its literal meaning. Ans. To erase.—If we should speak of obliterating the memory of a wrong, would the word be used in its primary or its derivative sense?
(4.) "When we speak of English "literature" what is meant?—Can you mention a great poem in Greek "literature"?—Compose a sentence containing the word "literature."