Literature

lit′ėr-a-tūr, n. the science of letters or what is written: the whole body of literary compositions in any language, or on a given subject: all literary productions except those relating to positive science and art, usually confined, however, to the belles-lettres.— adj. Lit′eratured ( Shak. ), learned, having literary knowledge.— Light literature , books which can be read and understood without mental exertion: fiction; Polite literature , belles-lettres. [Fr.,—L. literatura — liter a , a letter.]