Dictionary of problem words and expressions. Harry Shaw. 1975.
illiterate — See illiterate, ignorant See literate, illiterate … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
literate — See literate, illiterate … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
literate — UK US /ˈlɪtərət/ adjective ► able to read and write: »a literate workforce »barely/highly literate »The top priority must be ensuring young people are literate, numerate, and ready for work. ► having knowledge of a particular subject, or a… … Financial and business terms
illiterate — UK US /ɪˈlɪtərət/ adjective ► unable to read and write: »More than half of the country s population of 8m are illiterate. ► knowing little or nothing about a particular subject: »to be computer illiterate »economically/financially/technologically … Financial and business terms
illiterate — (adj.) early 15c., uneducated, unable to read (originally of Latin), from L. illiteratus unlearned, unlettered, ignorant; without culture, inelegant, from assimilated form of in not, opposite of (see IN (Cf. in ) (1)) + literatus, lit. furnished… … Etymology dictionary
illiterate — [i lit′ər it] adj. [L illiteratus, unlettered: see IN 2 & LITERATE] 1. ignorant; uneducated; esp., not knowing how to read or write 2. having or showing limited knowledge, experience, or culture, esp. in some particular field [musically… … English World dictionary
illiterate — illiterate, innumerate Illiterate (16c) means ‘unable to read or write’ or ‘poorly educated’; innumerate (20c) means ‘having no knowledge of or aptitude for the principles of mathematics’. The corresponding positive forms literate and numerate… … Modern English usage
illiterate — adj unlettered, uneducated, untaught, *ignorant, untutored, unlearned Antonyms: literate Contrasted words: taught, instructed, educated, schooled (see TEACH) … New Dictionary of Synonyms
illiterate — [adj] unable to read well; lacking education benighted, catachrestic, ignorant, inerudite, solecistic, uneducated, unenlightened, ungrammatical, uninstructed, unlearned, unlettered, unread, unschooled, untaught, untutored; concept 402 Ant. able,… … New thesaurus
literate — [[t]lɪ̱tərət[/t]] 1) ADJ Someone who is literate is able to read and write. Over one quarter of the adult population are not fully literate. Ant: illiterate 2) ADJ GRADED (approval) If you describe someone as literate, you mean that they are… … English dictionary
