different between illiterate vs alliterate

English

Etymology

Recorded in English since 1556, from Latin illitteratus (“unlearned, ignorant”), itself from in- (“un-”) + litteratus (“furnished with letters”) (from littera (“letter, character”)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??l?t???t/, /??l?t??t/

Adjective

illiterate (comparative more illiterate, superlative most illiterate)

1. Unable to read and write.
2. Having less than an expected standard of familiarity with language and literature, or having little formal education.
3. Not conforming to prescribed standards of speech or writing.
4. Ignorant in a specified way or about a specified subject.

   economically illiterate, emotionally illiterate

Synonyms

• analphabetic
• ignorant
• unlettered

Antonyms

• literate

Derived terms

• illiteracy
• illiterately
• illiterateness

Translations

See also

• innumerate (adjective)
• numerate (adjective)

Noun

illiterate (plural illiterates)

1. An illiterate person, one not able to read and write.
2. A person ignorant about a given subject.

   The government is run by business illiterates.

Synonyms

• analphabet
• analphabetic (noun)

Translations

See also

• innumerate (noun)
• numerate (noun)

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “illiterate”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

English

Etymology

Back-formation from alliteration.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??l?.t?.?e?t/

Verb

alliterate (third-person singular simple present alliterates, present participle alliterating, simple past and past participle alliterated)

1. (intransitive) To exhibit alliteration.
2. (transitive) To use (a word or sound) so as to make alliteration.
   • 1888, George Theodore Dippold, Richard Wagner's Poem the Ring of the Nibelung: Explained and in Part Translated

     It is a strophe of six lines, of which the first and second and the fourth and fifth belong together, while the third and sixth are independently alliterated.

Synonyms

• (exhibit alliteration): alliterize

Translations