I.lettered, i. e.
I. Lit., marked with letters, branded: “ensiculus,” Plaut. Rud. 4, 4, 112: “securicula,” id. ib. 115: “urna,” id. ib. 2, 5, 21: “laminae,” App. M. 3, p. 137, 7: “laciniae auro litteratae,” id. ib. 6, 174, 28: “servus,” a branded slave, Plaut. Cas. 2, 6, 49; cf.: “homunculi frontes litterati,” App. M. 9, p. 222, 30.—
II. Transf.
A. Learned, liberally educated: “Canius nec infacetus et satis litteratus,” Cic. Off. 3, 14, 58: “et litteratus et disertus,” id. Brut. 21, 81; id. Mur. 7, 16: “servi,” id. Brut. 22, 87: “quibus ineptiis nec litteratior fit quisquam nec melior,” Sen. Q. N. 4, 13, 1.—Esp. of the learned expounders of the poets: “quem litteratissimum fuisse judico,” Cic. Fam. 9, 16, 4: “appellatio grammaticorum Graecā consuetudine invaluit: sed initio litterati vocabantur,” Suet. Gram. 4.—
B. Of or belonging to learning, learned: “quid est enim dulcius otio litterato,” learned leisure, Cic. Tusc. 5, 36, 105: “senectus,” id. Brut. 76, 265: “labor,” App. Mag. 4, p. 276, 8.—Hence, adv.: lit-tĕrātē .
1. With plain letters, in a clear hand: “rationes perscriptae scite et litterate,” Cic. Pis. 25, 61.—
2. Transf.
a. To the letter, literally: “litterate respondere,” Cic. Harusp. Resp. 8, 17.—
b. Learnedly, scientifically, elegantly, cleverly: “scriptorum veterum litterate peritus,” learnedly, critically skilled, Cic. Brut. 56, 205: “belle et litterate dicta,” clever sayings, id. de Or. 2, 62, 253.—Comp.: “litteratius Latine loqui,” Cic. Brut. 108, 28.
