Obs. Also 4–5 letterure, (4 letrure, letterrure, lettyreure, 5 lectrure, litterure). [ad. OF. letrëure, lettrëure:—L. litterātūra, f. littera letter.]
1. A writing, a written book, a story. Holy lettrure = Holy Scripture.
13[?]. K. Alis., 3516. Ac, for that lettrure seith ther ageyn, Nul Y schewe hit to no mon.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. X. 27. ‘Lo!’ seith holy letterrure ‘whiche lordes beth this shrewes.’
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 2170. Luctus it hiȝt, þe letterure & þe line þus it callis.
c. 1450. Lonelich, Grail, lv. 240. In Caldev was this scripture, whiche Is to vndirstonde As be lettrure.
2. Knowledge of letters or books; learning.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. Poems, A. 750. Ne arystotel nawþer by hys lettrure Of carpe þe kynde þese propertez.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter lxx. 9. For .i. not knew lettyreure.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. I. 137. For in loue and in letterure lith þe grete eleccion.
c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 138. He cowde not no lettrure.
a. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 2073. Simple is my goost, and scars my letterure.
1447. Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 275. She of lettrure no Kunnyng had.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 276/2. Seynt Augustyn was quycke in engyne Swete in speche wyse in lettrure.
3. Science of or skill in (arms).
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1513. Þe lel layk of luf, þe lettrure of armes.
