literati

Dictionary: lit·er·a·ti (lĭt'ə-rä'tē) pronunciation

pl.n.
The literary intelligentsia.

[Latin litterātī, līterātī, pl. of litterātus, literate. See literate.]

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Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: literati

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Scholars in China and Japan whose poetry, calligraphy, and paintings were supposed primarily to reveal their cultivation and express their personal feelings rather than demonstrate professional skill. The concept of literati painters was first formulated in China in the Northern Song dynasty but was enduringly codified in the Ming dynasty by Dong Qichang. In the 18th – 19th century, literati painting became popular with the Japanese, who exaggerated elements of Chinese composition and brushwork. See also Ike no Taiga.

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Literary Dictionary: literati

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literati [litt‐ĕ‐rah‐ti], the collective term for educated people, especially those involved in studying, writing, or criticizing literary works. The term is often used disrespectfully. The singular forms, literatus (masculine) and literata (feminine), are rarely used; the French term littérateur is more frequently found.

WordNet: literati

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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: the literary intelligentsia

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	digerati
	glitterati
	culturati

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Copyrights:

		Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more
		Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
		Literary Dictionary. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Copyright © Chris Baldick 2001, 2004. All rights reserved. Read more
		WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more