Litern

Litern is a term that has appeared in a small body of online writing and in speculative fiction contexts. It does not have a universally accepted definition or formal recognition in linguistics, literary studies, or standard dictionaries. Because of its limited use, explanations of litern tend to vary by source.

In some discussions, litern is described as a hypothetical unit related to narrative or linguistic richness. In others, it is used as a fictional concept within a worldbuilding framework, serving as a label for a resource, energy, or measure defined by the author. The lack of a fixed meaning means readers must consult the specific text for interpretation.

Origin and history: Litern appears to be a neologism created in recent decades, with earliest identifiable online appearances in fan communities and creative writing forums. It has not gained formal etymology, nor has it been adopted by major reference works or dictionaries. Its meanings remain informal and source-dependent.

See also: neologism; worldbuilding; literary technique; vocabulary in fiction.