1. in a manner that shows excessive interest in books and learning rather than practical experience or social interaction
2. in a way that is characteristic of or suitable for books; in a literary or scholarly manner

Examples

• He spoke bookishly about the novel, citing obscure literary references that few understood.
• She approached the problem bookishly, relying on theory rather than hands-on experimentation.
• The professor's bookishly formal language made the lecture difficult for beginners to follow.
• He was criticized for being too bookishly inclined and not interested in outdoor activities.
• The author wrote bookishly, employing elaborate vocabulary and complex sentence structures.
• She bookishly quoted classical texts during casual dinner conversations.