Results

Definition of literature : 1. Learning; acquaintance with letters or books.
2. The class of writings distinguished for beauty of style or expression, as poetry, essays, or history, in distinction from scientific treatises and works which contain positive knowledge; belles- lettres.
3. The collective body of literary productions, embracing the entire results of knowledge and fancy preserved in writing; also, the whole body of literary productions or writings upon a given subject, or in reference to a particular science or branch of knowledge, or of a given country or period; as, the literature of Biblical criticism; the literature of chemistry.
4. The occupation, profession, or business of doing literary work.

Synonyms:

story, books, comment, exposition, history, theme, observation, dissertation, thesis, belles-lettres, treatment, literary productions, drama, summary, publications, tract, writings, critique, report, lit, discourse, literary works, findings, lore, treatise, record, abstract, novel, research, poetry, essay, biography, discussion, paper, disquisition, article

correspondence, calligraphy, journalism, ghostwriting, portrayal, notation, typescript, recording, composition, formulation, rewriting, writing, authorship, handwriting, transcription

Usage examples:

• The influence of the Parsee religion upon the literature and life of the people is very marked. - "The Critic in the Orient", George Hamlin Fitch.
• He was persuaded that Sidney's death had been a grave blow to literature and learning. - "Spenser (English Men of Letters Series)", R. W. Church.
• It is a charming book to read, and it will breed in its readers the appetite to read English literature for themselves." - "Letters to a Daughter and A Little Sermon to School Girls", Helen Ekin Starrett.