erudite

[ er-yoo-dahyt, er-oo- ]

adjective

1. characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly:

   an erudite professor; an erudite commentary.

   Synonyms: sapient, wise, knowledgeable, educated

erudite

/ ˈɛrʊˌdaɪt; ˌɛrʊˈdɪʃən /

adjective

1. having or showing extensive scholarship; learned

Derived Forms

• ˈeruˌditely, adverb
• erudition, noun

Other Words From

• eru·ditely adverb
• eru·diteness noun
• non·eru·dite adjective
• non·eru·ditely adverb
• non·eru·diteness noun
• un·eru·dite adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of erudite¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin ērudītus, equivalent to ērud(ē)- ( ē- intensive prefix + rud- “unformed, rough, rude”) + -ītus adjective suffix; e- ¹, rude, -ite ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of erudite¹

C15: from Latin ērudītus, from ērudīre to polish, from ex- ¹+ rudis unpolished, rough

Example Sentences

A small group of us followed erudite and friendly seaweed expert Spencer Marley of Marley Family Seaweeds as he walked down a path and climbed over rocks, leading us to a remote beach where different types of seaweed can be found.

From Washington Post

For now, though, the erudite-sounding interactive Digital Einstein chatbot still has enough of a lag to give the game away.

From TechCrunch

Earnestly coined terms, by contrast can be too staid, too erudite, too intent on making the coiner look smart.

From Time

Let’s not forget, as erudite and likable as he is, he was just a mayor.

From Washington Blade

The story is told in a lively, knowing style, without written-out musical examples but shot through with unfailingly erudite and impassioned discussion of the composer’s work.

From Washington Post

The gentle, erudite soul within a body the public considered an oddity is the contrast at the heart of “The Elephant Man.”

From The Daily Beast

Patricia Clarkson gets to show off both as the woman who becomes fascinated with the erudite monster.

From The Daily Beast

Armed with a plan that was equal parts erudite and dauntless, Burger plunged into the project, rising to every challenge.

From The Daily Beast

Erudite is trying to wrestle control of the government away from Abnegation via nefarious schemes.

From The Daily Beast

But unlike Bloom and Eagleton, his books have been, while erudite and incisive, unashamedly populist.

From The Daily Beast

The reply, prepared in this way and finally adopted by the Assembly, was longer and more erudite than Mr. Hutchinson's address.

From Project Gutenberg

Still it is not to the erudite, nor to the imaginative only, that it is given to please in conversation.

From Project Gutenberg

"I do not wonder at your defence of your erudite suitor," said Josephine, laying a disagreeable stress upon the adjective.

From Project Gutenberg

There was something mathematical in his effort after dry correctness and erudite accuracy.

From Project Gutenberg

The stately and erudite work of Francis Parkman is a fair example.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• knowledgeable
• literate
• scholarly