noun · femininefirst declension
littera
littera f (genitive litterae)
Classical[ˈlɪt.tɛ.ra]Ecclesiastical[ˈlit.te.ra]
№ 710 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary
Meaning
- feminineletter (of the alphabet)
- femininemetonymicallyhandwriting
Tam Alexidis manum amabam, quod tam prope accedebat ad similitudinem tuae litterae; non amabam, quod indicabat te non valere.
While I was liking the handwriting of Alexis for it resembled so closely a likeness to your own handwriting, I wasn't liking it for it was indicating that you were not well.68 BCE – 44 BCE, Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum 7.2 - feminineplural normallyletter, epistle
Litteras resignare.
To unseal (or open) a letter. - feminineplural normallyliterature
Abest historia litteris nostris.
The story is missing from our literature.Sī versūs hōrum duōrum poetārum neglegētis, magnā parte litterārum carēbitis.
If you neglect the verses of these two poets, you will miss a great part of literature. - broadlyfeminineplural normallyletters, knowledge of literature, learning, scholarship
- feminineplural normallybooks (often a collection of letters, epistles, accounts, records, etc.)
- feminineplural normallyrecord(s), account(s), document(s)
- feminineplural normallyedict, ordinance
Praetoris litterae.
A praetor's edict.Litteras revocavit.
A letter of appointment. (a commission)
Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers
signum ūnīus sonī: A, B, C litterae sunt; litterīs verba scrībimus.littera -ae f — in Mille Verba, Artēs et Litterae
letters, study
litterae — in Seneca, ch. IX
Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms
Litera · Elementum
Litera is a letter, as the most indivisible part of writing, like γράμμα; elementum (ἄλημα) as the most indivisible part of language or of knowledge in general, like στοιχεῖον. (iii. 210.)
Literæ · Epistola · Codicilli
Literæ is the most general expression for a letter; epistola is one directed to a distant friend, and sent by a messenger; codicilli, an address to one within the same walls, as a note. Sen. Ep. 55. Adeo tecum sum ut dubitem an incipiam non epistolas sed codicillos tibi scribere. Cic. Fam. vi. 18. Simul accepi a Seleuco tuo literas; statim quæsivi e Balbo per codicillos quid esset in lege. (vi. 198.)
Literæ · Artes · Doctrinæ · Disciplinæ
Literæ and artes denote the sciences as the general objects of scientific education; literæ, in a narrower sense, only as literature, or the sciences so far as they are laid down in books, and, together with other branches of knowledge, enrich the mind, and are the means of sharpening the understanding and forming the taste, artes (ἀρεταί?) in the widest sense, so far as the knowledge of them immediately attests intellectual cultivation, and readiness in the practical application of the sciences; whereas doctrinæ and disciplinæ denote particular parts of the general objects of knowledge formed into systems; doctrinæ, more the speculative and abstract parts of philosophical and learned education; disciplinæ, more the practical parts, that are conducive to the purposes of life. (v. 269.)
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | littera | litterae līterae |
| genitive | litterae līterae | litterārum līterārum |
| dative | litterae līterae | litterīs līterīs |
| accusative | litteram līteram | litterās līterās |
| ablative | litterā | litterīs līterīs |
| vocative | littera | litterae līterae |
Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book
- litterae
- literature.
- litteras scire
- to have received a liberal education.
- litterarum ordo
- the alphabet.
- litteras colere
- to be engaged in the pursuit of letters.
- litterae latinae
- Roman literature.
- litteras amplecti
- to be an enthusiastic devotee of letters.
- litterae, elementa
- the alphabet.
- ad litteram, litterate
- to the letter; literally.
50 more phrases
- litterarum studio trahi
- to feel an attraction for study.
- litteras perferre aliquo
- to take a letter somewhere.
- trahi, ferri ad litteras
- to feel an attraction for study.
- graecis litteris studere
- to study Greek literature.
- litterae missae et allatae
- correspondence.
- litteras discere ab aliquo
- to be educated by some one.
- litterarum studia remittere
- to relax one's studies.
- homines litterarum studiosi
- learned, scientific, literary men.
- in studio litterarum versari
- to be engaged in literary pursuits.
- clarissima litterarum lumina
- shining lights in the literary world.
- ludus (discendi or litterarum)
- an elementary school.
- litteras recitare (Att. 8. 9. 2)
- to read a letter aloud (in public).
- colloqui cum aliquo per litteras
- to correspond with some one.
- summo studio in litteris versari
- to be an ardent student of...
- se totum litteris tradere, dedere
- to devote oneself entirely to literature.
- aetatem in litteris ducere, agere
- to devote one's life to science, study.
- litterae iacent, neglectae iacent
- scholarship, culture, literature is at a low ebb.
- latinis litteris or latine doctus
- acquainted with the Latin language.
- primis litterarum elementis imbui
- to receive the first elements of a liberal education.
- litteras inter se dare et accipere
- to be in correspondence with...
- litterae hoc exemplo (Att. 9. 6. 3)
- a letter, the tenor of which is...
- litteras exprimere (opp. obscurare)
- to pronounce the syllables distinctly.
littĕra (less correctly lītĕra), ae, f. lino, q. v.,
I. a letter, a written sign or mark signifying a sound.
I. Lit.:
cubitum hercle longis litteris signabo jam usquequaque, si quis, etc., Plaut. Rud. 5, 2, 7: quid hae locuntur litterae? id. Bacch. 4, 7, 3; cf.: quid istae narrant? Tox. Perconctare ex ipsis; ipsae tibi narrabunt, id. Pers. 4, 3, 29: sus rostro si humi A litteram impresserit, Cic. Div. 1, 13, 23: priscarum litterarum notae, id. ib. 2, 41, 85: maximis litteris incisum, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 63, § 154 fin.: lenis appellatio litterarum, id. Brut. 74, 159: suavis appellatio litterarum, Quint. 11, 3, 35: quae si nostris litteris scribantur, id. 12, 10, 28 litterarum ordine, in alphabetical order, Plin. 37, 9, 54, § 138: verba primis litteris notare, Prob. de Not. Signif. 1 Huschke: digerere in litteram, to arrange alphabetically, Sen. Ep. 68, 18: scire litteras, to be able to read and write, Plaut. Truc. 4, 2, 23; Vitr. 1, 1, 14: nescire litteras, not to be able to read and write, id. Clem. 2, 1, 2; Suet. Ner. 10: scribere aureis litteris, Gai. Inst. 2, 77: scientia litterarum, the art of writing, Dig. 29, 2, 93: facere litteram or litteras, to write, Plaut. As. 4, 1, 22; Cic. Ac. 2, 2, 6.—In the language of comedy: homo trium litterarum, i. e. fur, a thief, Plaut. Aul. 2, 4, 46: litteram ex se longam facere, i. e. to make an I by hanging perpendicularly, to hang one's self: neque quicquam meliust mihi, ut opinor, quam ex me ut faciam litteram longam, meum laqueo collum quando obstrinxero, id. ib. 1, 1, 37: littera salutaris, i. e. A. (absolvo) and tristis, i. e. C. (condemno), which were put on the voting-tablets, Cic. Mil. 6, 15.—II. Transf.
A. Sing.
1. A word, a line:
ad me litteram numquam misit, Cic. Fam. 2, 17, 6: ad litteram, word for word, literally: locum ad litteram subjeci, Quint. 9, 1, 25originally reads 9, 1, 15.— 2. A handwriting:
Alexidis manum amabam, quod tam prope accedebat ad similitudinem tuae litterae, Cic. Att. 7, 2, 3; cf.: arguit ipsorum quos littera, Juv. 13, 138 (v. also infra B. 1. fin.).—B. Usually plur.
1. Littĕrae, ārum, f., a letter, epistle: litteras resignare, to unseal or open a letter, Plaut. Trin. 3, 3, 65:
ut litterarum ego harum sermonem audio, id. Ps. 1, 1, 97; Cic. Att. 1, 13, 1: dare alicui litteras ad aliquem, id. Cat. 3, 4, 9: litteras mittere, id. Att. 5, 21, 2: reddere alicui, id. ib. 5, 21, 4: accipere, id. ib. 5, 21, 7: remittere, id. ib. 11, 16, 4: nullas iis praeterquam ad te et ad Brutum dedi litteras, id. Fam. 3, 7, 1: queri apud aliquem per litteras, id. Att. 5, 21, 13: invitare aliquem perlitteras id. ib. 13, 2, 2: civitatum animos litteris temptare, Caes. B. C. 1, 40, 1: litterae missae, a letter sent by a person: litterae allatae, a letter received: hence, liber litterarum missarum et allatarum, a letter-book: L. M. (i. e. litterae missae) ... L. A. (i. e. litterae allatae), etc., Cic. Font. 4, 8; Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 71, § 167.—In poets also sometimes in sing.: quam legis a rapta Briseide littera venit, Ov. H. 3, 1; 5, 2; id. M. 9, 515; Tib. 3, 2, 27; Mart. 10, 73 al.— 2. A writing, document, paper:
litterae publicae, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 63, § 140; 2, 4, 16, § 35; esp. a written acknowledgment: littera poscetur, Ov. A. A. 1, 428.—4. An edict, ordinance:
praetoris litterae, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 22, § 56: litteras revocavit, letter of appointment, commission, Suet. Vesp. 8. —5. Written monuments, records, literature:
abest historia litteris nostris, is wanting in our literature, Cic. Leg. 1, 2, 5: Graecae de philosophia litterae, philosophical literature, id. Div. 2, 2, 5: genus hoc scriptionis nondum satis Latinis litteris illustratae, id. Brut. 64, 228; id. Tusc. 1, 1, 1; id. Fin. 1, 2, 4: Graecis litteris studere, id. Brut. 20, 78: damnum Hortensii interitu Latinae litterae fecerunt, id. ib. 33, 125: nullam artem litteris sine interprete et sine aliqua exercitatione percipi posse, merely from books, id. Fam. 7, 19: quod litteris exstet, Pherecydes primum dixit animos hominum esse sempiternos, id. Tusc. 1, 16, 38: parvae et rarae per eadem tempora litterae fuere, Liv. 6, 1, 2; 7, 3, 6: Etruscae, id. 9, 36, 3: paucissimos adhuc eloquentes litterae Romanae tulerunt, Quint. 10, 1, 123: amor litterarum, id. prooem. 6.—6. History, inasmuch as it is derived from written monuments:
cupidissimus litterarum fuit, Nep. Cat. 3, 1; id. Pelop. 1: parvae et rarae per eadem tempora litterae fuere, Liv. 6, 1.—7. Literary labor, composition:
omnis varietas litterarum mearum, Cic. Fam. 15, 4, 12: non nihil temporis tribuit litteris, Nep. Hann. 13, 2.—8. An inscription, Ov. M. 11, 706.—
9. Learning, the sciences, liberal education, scholarship, letters:
sit mihi orator tinctus litteris: audierit aliquid, legerit, Cic. de Or. 2, 20, 85: erant in eo plurimae litterae, id. Brut. 76, 265: homo communium litterarum, et politioris humanitatis non expers, id. de Or. 2, 7, 28: homo sine ingenio, sine litteris, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 44, § 98: fuit in illo ingenium, ratio, memoria, litterae, cura, cogitatio, diligentia, id. Phil. 2, 45, 116: mihi nihil libri, nihil litterae, nihil doctrina prodest, id. Att. 9, 10, 2: litterarum scientia, id. Brut. 42, 153: litterarum coguitio, id. de Or. 3, 32, 127: nescire litteras, to be without a liberal education, id. Brut. 74, 259: altiores litterae, magic, Plin. 14, 4, 5, § 51.—Comically of the art of love: Litteras didicisti; quando scis, sine alios discere, Plaut. Truc. 4, 2, 22.Charlton Lewis's shorter dictionary for students: the same scholarship in plain, modern definitions.
littera (lītera) ae, f
LI-, a letter, alphabetical sign, written sign of a sound : (epistula) Graecis conscripta litteris, Cs.: sus rostro si humi A litteram inpresserit: maximis litteris incisum: alqd litteris mandare, commit to writing , Cs.: salutaris, tristis (i. e. A and C on the ballots of jurors, for absolvo, condemno): provocatis ostentata inanibus litteris, as a pretence , L.: ad me litteram numquam misit, not a line.—A handwriting : accedebat ad similitudinem tuae litterae: Arguit ipsorum quos littera, Iu.— A writing, document, record : iunget nos littera, inscription , O.: littera poscetur, acknowledgment in writing , O.—Usu. plur: litterae publicae, records , C., Cs.: ratio omnis et omnes litterae, accounts : praetoris, edict. —Plur., a letter, epistle : mittuntur ad Caesarem ab Cicerone litterae, Cs.: meas acceperat litteras: nullas iis praeterquam ad te dedi litteras: per litteras mandare, ne, etc., Cs.: invitare alqm per litteras: liber litterarum missarum et adlatarum, a book of correspondence ; cf. sing: Quam legis a raptā Briseide littera venit, O.—Plur, written monuments, literature, books, literary works : litteras Graecas discere, S.: abest historia litteris nostris, is wanting in our literature : Graecae de philosophiā litterae, philosophical literature : damnum Hortensi interitu Latinae litterae fecerunt parvae et rarae per eadem tempora litterae fuere, L.: cupidissimus litterarum, N.—Fig., learning, the sciences, liberal education, scholarship, letters : fac periclum in litteris, T.: erant in eo plurimae litterae: scire litteras, to be educated : homo sine ingenio, sine litteris: nescire litteras: litterarum cognitio: in litteris vivere.
Origins
Proto-Indo-European *h₂leyH-der. Old Latin leitera Latin līterader.? Proto-Hellenic *dipʰtʰérā? Ancient Greek διφθέρᾱ (diphthérā)bor. Etruscan [Term?]bor.? Latin littera Unknown. Two possibilities include: * From earlier lītera, the existence of which is disputed, with lengthening of the consonant (sometimes called the littera rule), from Old Latin leitera (attested ca. 122 BC, argued by Ernout & Meillet to be a false etymological attraction to lino), from a plural form of earlier adj. *lei-tos (cf. opera from opus), related to Latin linō (“smear”) and Proto-Italic *linō (“smear”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂leyH- (“smear”). A variation of this is to reconstruct the PIE root as *leyt- (“to scratch”). : However, De Vaan points out that the past participle from lino is actually litus with a short i and, lacking any other traces of *leitos, says the scenario is "morphologically unconvincing". * Alternatively, perhaps via Etruscan [Term?] from (or related to, as if from a common source) Ancient Greek διφθέρᾱ (diphthérā, “leather; writing material”) which is claimed by Hesychius to be used to name tablets as well, of unknown ultimate origin.
Descendants
- Catalanlletra
- GermanLetter
- Italianlettera
- Occitanletra
- Frenchlettrefrom Old French letre
- Englishletterfrom Old French letre
- Portugueseletra
- Romanianliteră
- Sardinianlítara
- Sardinianlítera
In English words that came into English from littera
- letterlittera
- literatureliteratura
- literallitteralis
- illiterateillīterātus
- obliterateobliterātus
- transliteratetransliterātum
- triliterallītera
- litterateurlitterātor
- quadriliterallītera
- literationlittera
- literatuslīterātus
- obliteransoblitterare