Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Some Notes of Publishers. From post-classical Latin analphabetus illiterate from ancient Greek ἀναλϕάβητος from ἀν- + ἀλϕάβητος. In use as noun and in later use as adjective probably chiefly after corresponding forms in other languages: compare German †Analphabetus, Analphabet, †Analphabet, nouns, analphabeten, adjective, Italian analfabeta, †analfabeto, noun, Portuguese analfabeto, adjective and noun, Spanish analfabeto, adjective and noun, French analphabète.