Definition of erudite
: having or showing knowledge that is gained by studying : possessing or displaying erudition an erudite scholar
eruditely
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Examples of erudite in a Sentence
He wasn't bashful about showing himself to be feverishly erudite, … terminally droll, and a wizard phrasemaker. —Susan Sontag, New Yorker, 18 & 25 June 2001
… an engaging fellow: erudite, entertaining, intolerant of trendiness and fearlessly old-fashioned. … He can turn a nice phrase, too. —Mordecai Richler, Wall Street Journal, 2 May 1995
He was well read, especially in the works of Kipling, a field in which Violet could give him a game, and from time to time they would exchange erudite letters about Kipling characters. —Anthony Powell, The Strangers All are Gone, 1982
the most erudite people in medical research attended the conference
an erudite lecture on the latest discoveries in astronomy
Recent Examples of erudite from the Web
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Diana is erudite but unworldly, witty but never ironic, supremely self-confident and utterly mystified by the modern world.
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Descriptions that spring to mind: erudite, theatrical, state-of-the-art, and uncomplicatedly delicious.
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Soon, classificational languages were springing up like erudite crabgrass.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'erudite'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Erudite derives via Middle English "erudite" from Latin eruditus, the past participle of the verb erudire, meaning "to instruct." A closer look at that verb shows that it is formed by combining the prefix e-, meaning "missing" or "absent," with the adjective "rudis," which means "rude" or "ignorant" and is also the source of our word rude. We typically use the word rude to mean "discourteous" or "uncouth" but it can also mean "lacking refinement" or "uncivilized"; someone who is erudite, therefore, has been transformed from a roughened or uninformed state to a polished and knowledgeable one through a devotion to learning.
Origin and Etymology of erudite
Middle English erudit, from Latin eruditus, from past participle of erudire to instruct, from e- + rudis rude, ignorant
First Known Use: 15th century
ERUDITE Defined for English Language Learners
erudite
playDefinition of erudite for English Language Learners
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: having or showing knowledge that is learned by studying
Learn More about erudite
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for erudite Spanish Central: Translation of erudite Nglish: Translation of erudite for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of erudite for Arabic speakers
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