Webster's English Dictionary

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literate

1. lit.er.ate \'lit-*-r*t, 'li-tr*t\ aj [ME literat, fr. L litteratus 
   marked with letters, literate, fr. Xlitterae letters, literature, fr. pl. 
   of littera 1a: EDUCATED, CULTURED  1b: able to read and write  2a: versed 
   in literature or creative writing : LITERARY  2b: POLISHED, LUCID  - 
   lit.er.ate.ly av
2. literate n 1: an educated person  2: one who can read and write