literate

& s. [Lat. literatus, from liter a = a letter; Sp. literato; Ital. litter a to.] A. As adj .: Versed or instructed in letters or literature; learned, accomplished, lettered, literary. "Surely this is the proper function of literate elegency."- Mountagu : Devout E ays , pt. i., tr. 19, § 3. B. As substantive: 1. One engaged in literary pursuits; a literary man. 2. One who has received an education in a college or university, but who has not graduated; a candidate for holy orders who has not studied at a uni versity. ( Eng. ) land."-Beres ford Hope: English Cathedrals, ch. i. "The literate may become the typal incumbent of Eng A. Trans.: To listen to; to hearken to; to give ear to. B. In trans.: To listen, to hearken.