Erudite
/ˈɛrʊˌdaɪt/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Erudite describes a person or their work that shows deep learning and knowledge gained from reading and studying carefully. It is often used to talk about people who know many facts and ideas, especially in books or academic subjects.
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See It in Action
Showing deep, learned knowledge from study or reading
- •The erudite scholar explained the ancient text in detail.
- •Her erudite speech impressed everyone at the conference.
- •He is known for his erudite articles on history and philosophy.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "erudite" like "smart," but much more focused on learning from books and study, not just common sense
- ✓Picture a wise professor or scholar surrounded by many books, who can explain difficult ideas clearly
- ✓It's the feeling when you meet someone who can talk about many subjects with confidence and detail
- ✓Sounds like "AIR-uh-dite" → imagine air full of bright ideas and knowledge shining like light
- ✓In stories, erudite characters are often teachers, scientists, or experts who help others learn
- ✓NOT like "clever" (quick thinking or trickiness), erudite means deep, careful knowledge from study
- ✓NOT like "wise" (which can come from life experience), erudite is mostly about book learning and facts
Try Other Words
- •Knowledgeable: having a lot of knowledge (Use when you want a simpler, more common word)
- •Scholarly: related to serious study or academics (Use when focusing on academic or book learning)
- •Intellectual: showing deep thinking and understanding (Use when emphasizing thinking and ideas)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix, from a single root)
- •Etymology: From Latin "eruditus," meaning "instructed, learned," from "erudire" meaning "to instruct, educate"
- •Historical development: Used in English since the late 16th century to describe people with deep learning
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe people, writing, or speech that shows great knowledge and education
Reflect & Connect
•How can being erudite help someone in everyday life, not just in school or work?
•Can someone be erudite in one subject but not in others? How does that affect how we see their knowledge?
Fill in the blanks
1.An erudite person usually spends a lot of time ___ books and learning new things.
2.The professor gave an erudite lecture, full of ___ and detailed explanations.
3.Unlike a clever person who thinks quickly, an erudite person shows ___ knowledge.
4.When writing an erudite article, it is important to ___ many reliable sources.
5.People often respect someone who is erudite because of their deep ___.
6.An erudite speaker often uses ___ vocabulary and complex ideas.
7.You can tell a text is erudite if it has many ___ and references to important works.