alphabetarian

A1L1P3H4A1B3E1T1A1R1I1A1N1
UK/ˌæl.fə.bəˈtɛəɹi.ən/US/ˌæl.fə.bəˈtɛɹi.ən/

noun

One who is learning the alphabet; an abecedarian.

OriginEnglish alphabet ← Middle English alphabete ← Classical Latin alphabētum →
Scrabble 20
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Meanings

nounalphabetarian (plural alphabetarians)

plural alphabetarians

  1. One who is learning the alphabet; an abecedarian.
  2. A novice or ignoramus.

    The archbishop was derided in ballads as an "alphabetarian," who had burnt books which he could not read.

    1873, James Craigie Robertson, History of the Christian Church: A.D. 64-1517
    2 more examples

    I know also from experience that when an alphabetarian allows himself to use diacritical accents, he multiplies them excessively...

    1867, Philological Society, Transactions of the Philological Society

    The young alphabetarian had acquired sufficient learning to lead him to yearn for more; enough to stir his imagination; to give him notions.

    1963, Forbes Parkhill, Mister Barney Ford: A Portrait in Bistre

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
beginnerfresh meatgreenhornneofanneophytenubpunytenderfoottyro

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἀλφάβητος (alphábētos)
  2. Medieval Greekἀλφάβητον (alphábēton)
  3. Classical Latinalphabētum
  4. Middle Englishalphabete
  5. Englishalphabet
  6. Englishalphabetarian

From alphabet + -arian.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with alphabetarian

BulgarianvegetarianhumanitarianlibrarianpresbyterianovarianlibertarianMarianunitarianDariensectarianagrariantotalitarianAryanvaleriancontrarianaquarianproletarianSumeriancaesareanarionDariantrinitarianBolivarian
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

alphabetarian. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alphabetarian

MLA

“alphabetarian.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alphabetarian. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “alphabetarian,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/alphabetarian.

Source: alphabetarian on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.