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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Literatur(e, Litteratur(e, n. Also: literatuir, -our(e, -or, litteratour; letteratur(e, let(t)eratour(e; lateratour; litratour, -or, littratur, lettrature, -our(e. [Late ME. and e.m.E. litterature (1432–50), lytter-, literature, L. litterātūra, F. littérature.For the let(t)er- forms, cf. the note to Literal(l a.]

Knowledge of ‘letters’, learning, scholarship.Latterly freq. governed by a possessive or possess. construction: (A person's) literacy or scholarship.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxv. 501.
In til leteratoure sa wel he sped That [etc.] c1420 Wynt. ii. 253.
Ysis … In Egypte passyde … And thare scho kend thame letteratur [C. lettrature] 1531 Bell. Boece II. 137.
To nuris thaim in virtew and letterature(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi. 53.
Scho had leyryte the maste part Of the sewine sciens … & part had of al lateratour(c) c1420 Wynt. v. 3720.
Thir wordys all the empryowre As cunnand man off literature [W. letteratour] Herd 1456 Hay II. 161/24.
[A prince's secretary] suld be of gude eloquence and gude litterature a1500 Bk. Chess 630, 634. 1527 Dunferm. B. Rec. I. 155.
[To] caus the said letter for men of na litteratour be … interpret in comone langag … of Scotland 1535 Stewart 58238.
Ane man of knawledge and of literatuir 1588 Glasgow Prot. X. Pref. x.
Seing he is of sufficient literatour and qualificatioun thairfore 1592 Skene Acts (1597) 121 b.
The Lordes of Session [to be] … of gud literature, practik, jugement and vnderstanding of the lawes Id. Reg. Maj. i. 6. 1607 Yester Writs 285. 1654 Cramond Kirk S. 8 Oct.
To instruct the ȝoung ones in literature specillie to teache them the catechisme and to pray 1658 Rothesay B. Rec. 21.
In literatour(d) c1420 Wynt. v. 3619 (C); Ib. ix. 2155.
He was of gret lettratoure Ib. 4309.
Hucheon … cunnande was in littratur(2) 1575 Reg. Episc. Brechin II. 308.
Knawin … the sufficient qualificatioun the godlie literatour and gude conuersatioun of the said Jhone 1597 Old Ross-shire I. 28. 1619 Cranna Fraserburgh 209. 1621 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 341.
That ye warne the bursaris … to compeir befoir us … to suffer tryell … quhow they have prosede in thair litrator c1630 Scot Apol. Narr. 29.
To giue their testimoniall without due tryall of his conversation and literature 1635 S. Ronaldshay 20.
Testifying his literature and conversation 1640 Argyll Synod I. 28. 1643 Kirkcudbright B. Rec. II. 694.
Understanding the literatour and qualificatione of John Newall, notar 1649 Brechin Presb. 16. 1655 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 156. 1661 Acts VII. 272/2. 1674 Craven Ch. in Orkney 57. 1677 Old Ross-shire I. 38.
Be it kend … me John bishop of Ross … being sufficiently known to the literator guid lyf and conversation of Mr. D. M^cL. [etc.] 1678 Wemyss Chart. 253. 1681 Glasgow B. Rec. III. 294.
To try and examine the litratour, qualificatioune, good lyfe and conversatioune of the said [minister] 1681 Edinb. B. Rec. XI. 27.