littĕrātus (lītĕr-), a, um, adj. [littera], 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, Ap. Met. 3, 17, 15; laciniae auro litteratae, id. ib. 6, 3, 13; servus, a branded slave , Plaut. Cas. 2, 6, 49; cf.: homunculi frontes litterati, Ap. Met. 9, 12, 15.—
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, Ap. 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.