I. A writing formed of letters: “litteratura constat ex notis litterarum et ex eo, in quo imprimuntur illae notae,” Cic. Part. 7, 26.— *
B. Transf.: “Graeca,” the Greek alphabet, Tac. A. 11, 13.—
II. The science of language, grammar, philology: “grammatice, quam in Latinum transferentes litteraturam vocaverunt,” Quint. 2, 1, 4; cf. id. 2, 14, 3: “prima illa litteratura, per quam pueris elementa traduntur,” Sen. Ep. 88, 20.—
III. Learning, erudition: “saecularis,” Tert. Spect. 18.