littera

lat. littera ‘Buchstabe’

Origin unknown. Two explanations have been proposed:

• 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 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.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈlit.te.ra/, [ˈlʲɪt̪ːɛrä]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈlit.te.ra/, [ˈlit̪ːerä]

Audio (Ecclesiastical)

Duration: 1 second.0:01

Noun

littera f (genitive litterae); first declension

1. letter (of the alphabet)
2. (metonymically) handwriting [ quotations ▼]
3. (usually in the plural) letter, epistle

   Litteras resignare.

1. To unseal (or open) a letter.

1. (usually in the plural) literature

   Abest historia litteris nostris.

1. The story is missing from our literature.

1. Si versus horum duorum poetarum neglegetis, magna parte litterarum carebitis.

1. If you neglect the verses of these two poets, you will miss a great part of literature.

1. (usually in the plural, by extension) letters, knowledge of literature, learning, scholarship
2. (usually in the plural) books (often a collection of letters, epistles, accounts, records, etc.)
3. (usually in the plural) record(s), account(s), document(s)
4. (usually in the plural) edict, ordinance

   Praetoris litterae.

1. A praetor's edict.

1. Litteras revocavit.

1. A letter of appointment. (a commission)

Usage notes

• litterae missae means "a letter sent by a person" and litterae allatae a "a letter received" hence, liber litterarum missarum et allatarum meant a letter-book.

Declension

First-declension noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	littera	litterae
Genitive	litterae	litterārum
Dative	litterae	litterīs
Accusative	litteram	litterās
Ablative	litterā	litterīs
Vocative	littera	litterae