litterae humaniores

plural noun

lit·​te·​rae hu·​ma·​ni·​o·​res ˈli-tə-ˌrī-hü-ˌmä-nē-ˈȯr-ˌās How to pronounce litterae humaniores (audio)
: humanities

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, literally, more humane letters

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of litterae humaniores was in 1747

Rhymes for litterae humaniores

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Browse Nearby Words

litterae clausae
litterae humaniores
littera scripta manet
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Cite this Entry

“Litterae humaniores.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/litterae%20humaniores. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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