From Late Latin analphabetus ("unable to read and write; illiterate"), from Ancient Greek ἀναλφάβητος ("illiterate"), from ἀν- + ἀλφάβητος; analysable as an- + alphabet. The English word was probably influenced by cognate words in other languages such as French analphabète, German Analphabetus, Analphabet, analphabeten, Italian analfabeta, analfabeto, Portuguese analfabeto, Spanish analfabeto.
The adjective was derived from the noun.
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