analphabetic

[ an-al-fuh-bet-ik, an-al- ]

adjective

1. not alphabetic:

   an analphabetic arrangement of letters.

2. unable to read or write; illiterate:

   analphabetic peoples.

3. Phonetics. of or constituting a system of phonetic transcription, as the one devised by Otto Jespersen, that for each sound indicates by separate sets of symbols the articulator, the point of articulation, and the size and shape of the mouth opening.

noun

1. an illiterate person; analphabet.

analphabetic

/ ænˌæl-; ˌænælfəˈbɛtɪk /

adjective

1. not in alphabetical order

noun

1. See illiterate
   a less common word for illiterate

Derived Forms

• ˌanalphaˈbetically, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of analphabetic¹

1660–70; < Greek analphábēt ( os ) not knowing the alphabet ( an- an- ¹ + alphábēt ( os ) alphabet + -os adj. suffix) + -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of analphabetic¹

C20: from Greek analphabētos; see an- , alphabet