Lewis & Short

littĕrātūra (lītĕr-), ae, f. [litterae].

  1. I. A writing formed of letters: litteratura constat ex notis litterarum et ex eo, in quo imprimuntur illae notae, Cic. Part. 7, 26.
    1. * B. Transf.: Graeca, the Greek alphabet, Tac. A. 11, 13.
  2. 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.
  3. III. Learning, erudition: saecularis, Tert. Spect. 18.