adjective
- given or devoted to reading or study.
- more acquainted with books than with real life.
- of or relating to books; literary.
- stilted; pedantic.
adjective
- fond of reading; studious
- consisting of or forming opinions or attitudes through reading rather than direct personal experience; academica bookish view of life
- of or relating to booksa bookish career in publishing
1560s, “literary,” from book (n.) + -ish. In sense of “overly studious” it is recorded from 1590s. Related: Bookishly; bookishness.