Lewis & Short

littĕrātus (lītĕr-), a, um, adj. [littera], lettered, i. e.

  1. 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.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. 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.
    2. 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. 1. With plain letters, in a clear hand: rationes perscriptae scite et litterate, Cic. Pis. 25, 61.
      2. 2. Transf.
        1. a. To the letter, literally: litterate respondere, Cic. Harusp. Resp. 8, 17.
        2. 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.