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preliterate

pre·lit·er·ate
P p

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [pree-lit-er-it]
    • /priˈlɪt ər ɪt/
    • /prɪlˈɪtərˌeɪt/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [pree-lit-er-it]
    • /priˈlɪt ər ɪt/

Definitions of preliterate word

  • adjective preliterate lacking a written language; nonliterate: a preliterate culture. 1
  • adjective preliterate occurring before the development or use of writing. 1
  • adjective preliterate relating to a society that has not developed a written language 0
  • adjective preliterate of or belonging to a society not having a writing system for its language 0
See all 4 definitions of preliterate

Information block about the term

Origin of preliterate

First appearance:

before 1920
One of the 12% newest English words
First recorded in 1920-25; pre- + literate

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Preliterate

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Preliterate

preliterate popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 61% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data about 70% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

preliterate usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for preliterate

adj preliterate

  • atavistic — Atavistic feelings or behaviour seem to be very primitive, like the feelings or behaviour of our earliest ancestors.
  • brutish — If you describe a person or their behaviour as brutish, you think that they are brutal and uncivilised.

adjective preliterate

All 3 Synonyms of preliterate

Related words

  • primitive

    being the first or earliest of the kind or in existence, especially in an early age of the world: primitive forms of life.

  • nonliterate

    preliterate.

  • picture writing

    the art of recording events or expressing ideas by pictures, or pictorial symbols, as practiced by preliterate peoples.

  • savage

    fierce, ferocious, or cruel; untamed: savage beasts.

  • throwing stick

    a short, straight or curved stick, flat or cylindrical in form, often having a hand grip, and used generally in preliterate societies as a hunting weapon to throw at birds and small game.
All related words to preliterate

See also

Matching words

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