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Glite Dictionary
lettered

lettered

6.2
A person who is well educated and knows a lot about books and ideas
  • adjective
  • /ˈlɛtərd/
  • Formal
translation icon : culto
  • He is well-respected in the community, recognized as a lettered individual with a deep understanding of history.

Examples

  • Thanks to the Lettered Cottage for sending me this way.

    Blog text (13)

  • The professor, known for his sharp intellect, is highly lettered and often cited in academic journals.

  • She impresses everyone with her lettered knowledge of classical literature and philosophy.

Synonyms

knowledgeable
vslettered
92 4.1

A person who has learned a lot about a subject

combines that broad understanding with deep reading and higher study
well-educated
vslettered
40 3.9

Has learned a lot and knows many things

stresses being well read and generally knowledgeable beyond formal training
educated
vslettered
36 3.2

A person who has a good education and a lot of knowledge

focuses more on wide reading and broad knowledge than formal schooling
well-informed
vslettered
33 3.5

A person who knows a lot about a subject or the world

is broader in overall learning and long‑term reading, not just current facts
well-read
vslettered
15 4.5

Knowing a lot because you read many books

adds formal study and wider worldly knowledge beyond reading alone
literate
vslettered
12 4.4

Having enough knowledge to use or understand a subject like computers

implies a higher, wider education and much reading rather than narrow competence
erudite
vslettered
  • Formal
12 8.4

Having much knowledge from study

is more general, combining wide reading with solid academic background
learned
vslettered
  • Formal
6.0

Very well educated and knowing a lot about a subject

is less narrowly scholarly and includes broad reading and general learning

Antonyms

ignorant
367 3.7

Not knowing about something or how it works

uneducated
56 2.8

A person who has little or no schooling

How Educated

erudite
  • Formal
12 8.4
learned
  • Formal
6.0
lettered
  • Formal
6.2
literate
11 2.5
illiterate
4 4.4

Surface Forms

lettered positive

Morphology

lettered = letter (opaque) = letter + ed

The word 'lettered' is derived from 'letter' with the suffix '-ed', but its meaning as 'well-read or educated' is not directly inferable from its components.

Etymology

The word lettered comes from the simple word letter, meaning a written character, and is related to literature. In earlier times, people who knew the 'letters' could read and write, so to be lettered is to be well read and educated.