| 释义 |
literate, a. and n.|ˈlɪtərət|
Also 5, 7 litterate, 6 litterat.
[ad. L. litterātus, f. littera letter.]
A. adj.
1. Acquainted with letters or literature; educated, instructed, learned. In early use, const. in.
1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) IV. 81 The kynge toke to the childe a m. talentes whiche bouȝhte anoon a c. childer litterate. 1560Rolland Crt. Venus iii. 142 For I in law am not weill litterat. 1603Owen Pembrokeshire (1891) 176 Done by the witnesses themselves if they were literate. 1631Chapman Cæsar & Pompey v. i. H 2 b, The ægæan sea, that doth diuide Europe from Asia. (The sweet literate world From the Barbarian). 1636R. Brathwait Rom. Emp. 150 An enemy of all litterate and learned men. 1680Answ. Stillingfleet's Serm. 7 Re-ordination is an uncouth thing, quite against the hair of the literate World. 1748Chesterfield Lett. (1792) II. clxxii. 139 You are going to a polite and literate Court. 1768–84Johnson in Boswell App. (1848) 812/2 Had my mother been more literate, they had been better companions. 1821Lamb Elia, Old Benchers Inner Temple, He was the Friar Bacon of the less literate portion of the Temple. 1845R. W. Hamilton Pop. Educ. x. (ed. 2) 267 On the same ground, a Literate qualification for electoral rights in the commonwealth, must be condemned. 1884D. Hunter tr. Reuss's Hist. Canon ii. 19 When the writings of the first disciples..came within reach of persons who were literate, they might [etc.].
absol.1859T. Hare Election Representatives (1865) 90 Reducing..the literate and the ignorant..to one dead level. 1859Smiles Self-Help x. (1860) 274 The humblest and least literate must train his sense of duty.
2. a. Of or pertaining to letters, literary men, or literature; literary.
1648W. Mountague Devout Ess. i. xix. §3. 348 Surely this is the proper function of literate elegancy, to figure vertue in so lively and fresh colours, that [etc.]. 1651tr. Wolton's Panegyr. Chas. I in Reliq. W. 135 To beguile,..with some literate diversion, the tedious length of those days. 1711Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) III. Misc. v. ii. 274 Downright Ignorance of all literate Art, or just Poetick Beauty. 1764Scott Bailey's Dict. Title-p., Republished with many corrections, additions and literate improvements. 1811Antiq. in Ann. Reg. 534/2 His own liberal hand was speedily extended to relieve literate distress. 1837–9Hallam Hist. Lit. i. v. (1855) I. 352 By the Reformation the number of..those requiring..a literate education was greatly reduced. 1851D. Wilson Preh. Ann. (1863) II. iv. ii. 242 Another inscription preserving..the only authentic literate Memorial. 1872M. Collins Two Plunges III. vi. 137 The old town..has not the first force of either the aristocratic or the literate or the mercantile impulse.
†b. = literal 4. Obs.
1556J. Heywood Spider & F. Concl. 60, I craue leaue..one sence tenterpretate: Of apt aplication to sence literate.
3. ‘Marked with short, angulated lines resembling letters: applied to the surfaces of shells and insects’ (Cent. Dict.).
B. n.
1. A liberally educated or learned person.
a1550Image Hypocr. iv. 80 in Skelton's Wks. (1843) II. 440 Advocates, And parum litterates, That eate vpp all estates. 1778Learning at a Loss II. 152 Christopher Hartley, Esquire, a Sir Wou'd-be Literate. 1808E. Sleath Bristol Heiress V. 324 Persuading her that she was the most accomplished literate and female wit of the age. 1852J. H. Newman Callista (1856) 238 Callista was a Greek; a literate, or blue-stocking. 1878M. E. Herbert tr. Hübner's Ramble II. ii. 494 The literates in China are all atheists.
2. spec. In the Church of England, one who is admitted to holy orders without having obtained a university degree.
1824Bp. Jebb Sp. Irish Tithe Compos. Amendmt. Bill 49 In Ireland we have no literates, none of that class, who, in this country, prepare themselves by private study, at a trifling cost, for the profession of the Church. 1861A. Beresford-Hope Eng. Cathedr. 19th C. 18 Literates—who enter holy orders without any reasonable hope of any better material position. 1866S. B. James Duty & Doctrine 19 Graduates of the three Universities..theological-college men and literates. 1868M. Pattison Academ. Org. iv. 74 To obtain ordination as a literate is something.
3. One who can read and write. Opposed to illiterate.
1894H. C. Lea in Forum (U.S.) Aug. 675 Statistics show that literates contribute a larger percentage of their class to the criminal ranks than do the illiterates.
4. (Lady) Literate in Arts, the title conferred on the holder of a higher certificate for women issued at St. Andrews University. Abbrev. L.L.A.
This diploma was discontinued in 1931.
1881St. Andrews Univ. Cal. 203 Any Candidate who passes in four subjects, [etc.]..will receive the title of Literate in Arts (L.L.A.). 1891R. F. Murray Scarlet Gown 122 An L.L.A. is a Lady Literate in Arts. 1901Daily Record 30 July 3 Lady Literates in Arts. 1931L.L.A. Examination, Diploma, & Title for Women (Univ. St. Andrews) 8 There is no limit as to age in the L.L.A. Examination.
Add: Hence ˈliterately adv.
1958Misc. Rep. (N. Y.) 2nd Ser. VIII. 307 The apellation ‘strip-tease’ in common vernacular, more literately known as ‘ecdysis’. 1978Washington Post 3 Dec. f7/4 Lucid description, classical commentary,..all literately written to make serious archeology joyful and easy to read. 1989N.Y. Times 30 July vii. 16/1 The book..smoothly and literately translated by Anselm Hollo. |
