literature
lit.er.a.ture \'lit-*-r*-.chu.(*)r, 'li-tr*-.chu.(*)r, 'lit-*(r)-.chu.(*)r, -ch*r,\ n-.t(y)u.(*)r often attrib archaic 1: literary culture 2: the production of literary work esp. as an occupation 3a: writings in prose or verse; esp : writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest 3b: the body of writings on a particular subject 3c: printed matter (as leaflets or circulars) 4: the aggregate of musical compositions