# littera
## Finnish
### Etymology

Internationalism, ultimately from Latin littera.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈlitːerɑ/, [ˈlit̪ːe̞rɑ̝]
* Rhymes: -itːerɑ
* Hyphenation: lit‧te‧ra

### Noun

littera
* identification letter, ordinal letter
    Synonym: järjestyskirjain
** (numismatics) a letter used to distinguish different banknotes, coins, etc. of the same denomination
** (rail transport) identification code of a class of rolling stock
* (finance) denomination (of a stock certificate)
* (accounting) phase of a project, etc. (in billing, invoicing, etc.; any unit which may be billed for, often as part of a larger project)
* (historical) a free (train) ticket or ticket rebate offered to military transportation or to conscripts

#### Declension

Possessive forms of littera (Kotus type 12/kulkija, no gradation) :
first-person singular possessor
singular
plural
nominative
litterani
litterani
accusative
nom.
litterani
litterani
gen.
litterani
genitive
litterani
litteroideni litteroitteni litteraini $^{rare}$
partitive
litteraani
litteroitani
inessive
litterassani
litteroissani
elative
litterastani
litteroistani
illative
litteraani
litteroihini
adessive
litterallani
litteroillani
ablative
litteraltani
litteroiltani
allative
litteralleni
litteroilleni
essive
litteranani
litteroinani
translative
litterakseni
litteroikseni
abessive
litterattani
litteroittani
instructive
comitative
—litteroineni
second-person singular possessor
singular
plural
nominative
litterasi
litterasi
accusative
nom.
litterasi
litterasi
gen.
litterasi
genitive
litterasi
litteroidesi litteroittesi litteraisi $^{rare}$
partitive
litteraasi
litteroitasi
inessive
litterassasi
litteroissasi
elative
litterastasi
litteroistasi
illative
litteraasi
litteroihisi
adessive
litterallasi
litteroillasi
ablative
litteraltasi
litteroiltasi
allative
litterallesi
litteroillesi
essive
litteranasi
litteroinasi
translative
litteraksesi
litteroiksesi
abessive
litterattasi
litteroittasi
instructive
comitative
—litteroinesi
first-person plural possessor
singular
plural
nominative
litteramme
litteramme
accusative
nom.
litteramme
litteramme
gen.
litteramme
genitive
litteramme
litteroidemme litteroittemme litteraimme $^{rare}$
partitive
litteraamme
litteroitamme
inessive
litterassamme
litteroissamme
elative
litterastamme
litteroistamme
illative
litteraamme
litteroihimme
adessive
litterallamme
litteroillamme
ablative
litteraltamme
litteroiltamme
allative
litterallemme
litteroillemme
essive
litteranamme
litteroinamme
translative
litteraksemme
litteroiksemme
abessive
litterattamme
litteroittamme
instructive
comitative
—litteroinemme
second-person plural possessor
singular
plural
nominative
litteranne
litteranne
accusative
nom.
litteranne
litteranne
gen.
litteranne
genitive
litteranne
litteroidenne litteroittenne litterainne $^{rare}$
partitive
litteraanne
litteroitanne
inessive
litterassanne
litteroissanne
elative
litterastanne
litteroistanne
illative
litteraanne
litteroihinne
adessive
litterallanne
litteroillanne
ablative
litteraltanne
litteroiltanne
allative
litterallenne
litteroillenne
essive
litterananne
litteroinanne
translative
litteraksenne
litteroiksenne
abessive
litterattanne
litteroittanne
instructive
comitative
—litteroinenne
third-person possessor
singular
plural
nominative
litteransa
litteransa
accusative
nom.
litteransa
litteransa
gen.
litteransa
genitive
litteransa
litteroidensa litteroittensa litterainsa $^{rare}$
partitive
litteraansa
litteroitaan litteroitansa
inessive
litterassaan litterassansa
litteroissaan litteroissansa
elative
litterastaan litterastansa
litteroistaan litteroistansa
illative
litteraansa
litteroihinsa
adessive
litterallaan litterallansa
litteroillaan litteroillansa
ablative
litteraltaan litteraltansa
litteroiltaan litteroiltansa
allative
litteralleen litterallensa
litteroilleen litteroillensa
essive
litteranaan litteranansa
litteroinaan litteroinansa
translative
litterakseen litteraksensa
litteroikseen litteroiksensa
abessive
litterattaan litterattansa
litteroittaan litteroittansa
instructive
comitative
—litteroineen litteroinensa :

### Further reading

* “littera”, in Kielitoimiston sanakirja [Dictionary of Contemporary Finnish]‎ (in Finnish) (online dictionary, continuously updated), Kotimaisten kielten keskuksen verkkojulkaisuja 35, Helsinki: Kotimaisten kielten tutkimuskeskus (Institute for the Languages of Finland), 2004–, retrieved 2023-07-03

## Interlingua
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈlit.te.ra/

### Noun

littera (plural litteras)
* letter (of the alphabet)
* letter (an epistle)

## Latin
### Alternative forms

* lītera

### Etymology

Origin unknown. Two explanations have been proposed:
* From earlier lītera, the existence of which is disputed, with lengthening of the consonant (sometimes called the littera rule), from Old Latin leitera (attested ca. 122 BC, argued by Ernout & Meillet to be a false etymological attraction to lino), from a plural form of earlier adj. *lei-tos (cf. opera from opus), related to Latin linō (“smear”) and Proto-Italic *linō (“smear”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂leyH- (“smear”). A variation of this is to reconstruct the PIE root as *leyt- (“to scratch”).
    However, de Vaan points out that the past participle from lino is actually litus with a short i and, lacking any other traces of *leitos, says the scenario is "morphologically unconvincing".
* Alternatively, perhaps via Etruscan [Term?] from (or related to, as if from a common source) Ancient Greek διφθέρᾱ (diphthérā, “leather; writing material”) which is claimed by Hesychius to be used to name tablets as well, of unknown ultimate origin.

### Pronunciation

* (Classical Latin) IPA: /ˈlit.te.ra/, [ˈlʲɪt̪ːɛrä]
* (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA: /ˈlit.te.ra/, [ˈlit̪ːerä]

### Noun

littera f (genitive litterae); first declension
* letter (of the alphabet)
* (metonymically) handwriting
** 68 BCE – 44 BCE, Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum 7.2:Tam Alexidis manum amabam, quod tam prope accedebat ad similitudinem tuae litterae; non amabam, quod indicabat te non valere.While I was liking the handwriting of Alexis for it resembled so closely a likeness to your own handwriting, I wasn't liking it for it was indicating that you were not well.
* (usually in the plural) letter, epistle
    Litteras resignare.To unseal (or open) a letter.
* (usually in the plural) literature
    Abest historia litteris nostris.The story is missing from our literature.
    Si versus horum duorum poetarum neglegetis, magna parte litterarum carebitis.If you neglect the verses of these two poets, you will miss a great part of literature.
* (usually in the plural, by extension) letters, knowledge of literature, learning, scholarship
* (usually in the plural) books (often a collection of letters, epistles, accounts, records, etc.)
* (usually in the plural) record(s), account(s), document(s)
* (usually in the plural) edict, ordinance
    Praetoris litterae.A praetor's edict.
    Litteras revocavit.A letter of appointment. (a commission)

#### Usage notes

* litterae missae means "a letter sent by a person" and litterae allatae a "a letter received" hence, liber litterarum missarum et allatarum meant a letter-book.

#### Declension

First-declension noun.

#### Derived terms

* ad litteram
* coeuntes litterae
* littera canīna
* littera tenuis
* litterae clausae
* litterae patentēs
* litterālis
* litterātim
* litterula

#### Descendants

* Asturian: lletra
* Catalan: lletra
* Dalmatian: latera
* Friulian: letare, lètare
* German: Letter
* Italian: lettera
** → Albanian: letër
* Occitan: letra
* Old French: letre
** French: lettre
** → Middle English: lettre, leattre, letter, lettyr
*** English: letter
** → Middle Dutch: lettere
*** Dutch: letter
**** Afrikaans: letter
**** Negerhollands: letter
**** → Caribbean Javanese: lèter
**** → Indonesian: leter
**** → Japanese: レッテル (retteru)
**** → Papiamentu: lèter, lèterchi, letter
**** → Saramaccan: letè
*** Limburgish: lètter
* Piedmontese: litra
* Portuguese: letra
* Romanian: literă
* Romansch: letra
* Sardinian: lítara, lítera
* Sicilian: littra, lìttira
* Spanish: letra
** → Chavacano: letra
** → Classical Nahuatl: letra
** → Tagalog: letra
* Venetan: łétara, létara, létera
* → Proto-Brythonic: *llɨθer (see there for further descendants)
* → Old Irish: liter
** Irish: litir
** Manx: lettyr
** Scottish Gaelic: litir
* → Polish: litera
* → Russian: ли́тера (lítera)

### References

* 1 2 De Vaan, Michiel (2008) “littera”, in Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 346
* ↑ Sen, Ranjan (2015) Syllable and Segment in Latin‎, Oxford: Oxford University Press, page 47
* ↑ Iustinianus Project (2021 June 14 (last accessed)) “LEX (ACILIA?) REPETUNDARUM, Law on the right to recovery of property officially extorted (CIL I2, n. 583)”, in The Roman Law Library‎, Université Grenoble Alpes, archived from the original on 2021-06-14: “...libros leiterasve pop[licas]...”
* 1 2 Ernout, Alfred, Meillet, Antoine (1985) “littera”, in Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue latine: histoire des mots‎ (in French), 4th edition, with additions and corrections of Jacques André, Paris: Klincksieck, published 2001, page 363
* ↑ Walde, Alois, Hofmann, Johann Baptist (1938) “littera”, in Lateinisches etymologisches Wörterbuch (in German), 3rd edition, volume I, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, page 814
* ↑ Sihler, Andrew L. (1995) New Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 224

### Further reading

* “littera”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
* “littera”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
* "littera", in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
* littera in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
* Carl Meißner, Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book‎, London: Macmillan and Co. to live (all) one's life (honourably, in the country, as a man of learning): vitam, aetatem (omnem aetatem, omne aetatis tempus) agere (honeste, ruri, in litteris), degere, traducere the study of belles-lettres; literary pursuits: litterarum studium or tractatio (not occupatio) learned, scientific, literary men: homines litterarum studiosi scholarship, culture, literature is at a low ebb: litterae iacent, neglectae iacent to be engaged in the pursuit of letters: litteras colere to be an enthusiastic devotee of letters: litteras amplecti to be an enthusiastic devotee of letters: litteras adamasse (only in perf. and plup.) to be engaged in literary pursuits: in studio litterarum versari to be engaged in any branch of study: in aliquo litterarum genere versari to be an ardent student of..: summo studio in litteris versari to devote oneself entirely to literature: se totum litteris tradere, dedere to be quite engrossed in literary studies: se totum in litteras or se litteris abdere to apply oneself very closely to literary, scientific work: in litteris elaborare (De Sen. 8. 26) to find recreation in study: in litteris acquiescere or conquiescere to devote one's life to science, study: aetatem in litteris ducere, agere to devote all one's leisure moments to study: omne (otiosum) tempus in litteris consumere to employ all one's energies on literary work: omne studium in litteris collocare, ad litteras conferre to feel an attraction for study: litterarum studio trahi to feel an attraction for study: trahi, ferri ad litteras to relax one's studies: litterarum studia remittere to have a superficial knowledge, a smattering of literature, of the sciences: primis (ut dicitur) or primoribus labris gustare or attingere litteras literature: litterae written records; documents: litterae ac monumenta or simply monumenta Roman literature: litterae latinae shining lights in the literary world: clarissima litterarum lumina to study Greek literature: graecis litteris studere to be well (slightly) acquainted with Greek literature: multum (mediocriter) in graecis litteris versari acquainted with the Latin language: latinis litteris or latine doctus to possess literary knowledge: litterarum scientiam (only in sing.) habere to be well-informed, erudite: multarum rerum cognitione imbutum esse (opp. litterarum or eruditionis expertem esse or [rerum] rudem esse) to have received a liberal education: litteras scire profound scientific education: litterae interiores et reconditae, artes reconditae for a Roman he is decidedly well educated: sunt in illo, ut in homine Romano, multae litterae (De Sen. 4. 12) to have received a superficial education: litteris leviter imbutum or tinctum esse to be educated by some one: litteras discere ab aliquo an elementary school: ludus (discendi or litterarum) to receive the first elements of a liberal education: primis litterarum elementis imbui to teach some one letters: erudire aliquem artibus, litteris (but erudire aliquem in iure civili, in re militari) to write expositions of philosophy in Latin: philosophiam latinis litteris illustrare (Acad. 1. 1. 3) to study historical records, read history: evolvere historias, litterarum (veterum annalium) monumenta to hold by the letter (of the law): verba ac litteras or scriptum (legis) sequi (opp. sententia the spirit) to lengthen the pronunciation of a syllable or letter: syllabam, litteram producere (opp. corripere) (Quintil. 9. 4. 89) to pronounce the syllables distinctly: litteras exprimere (opp. obscurare) to the letter; literally: ad litteram, litterate the alphabet: litterarum ordo the alphabet: litterae, elementa to arrange in alphabetical order: ad litteram or litterarum ordine digerere to put down in writing: litteris mandare or consignare aliquid (Acad. 2. 1. 2) to treat in writing: litteris persequi (vid. sect. VIII. 2, note persequi...) aliquid to write a letter to some one: epistulam (litteras) dare, scribere, mittere ad aliquem correspondence: litterae missae et allatae to correspond with some one: colloqui cum aliquo per litteras to be in correspondence with..: litteras inter se dare et accipere to take a letter somewhere: litteras perferre aliquo to read a letter aloud (in public): litteras recitare (Att. 8. 9. 2) a letter, the tenor of which is..: litterae hoc exemplo (Att. 9. 6. 3) the terms, contents of the letter are as follows: litterae in hanc sententiam or his verbis scriptae sunt to deliver a letter dated September 21st: litteras reddere datas a. d. Kal. X. Octob. a most courteous letter: litterae officii or humanitatis plenae
* littera in Ramminger, Johann (2016 July 16 (last accessed)) Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎, pre-publication website, 2005-2016
* Blažek, Václav (2018) “Toward the Etymology of Latin littera”, in Graeco-Latina Brunensia, volume 23, number 2, page 5

### Anagrams

* tāliter