_optima studia, bonae, optimae, liberales, ingenuae artes,
disciplinae_—the sciences; the fine arts.
_litterarum_[1] _studium_ or _tractatio_ (not _occupatio_)—the study
of belles-lettres; literary pursuits.
_homines litterarum studiosi_—learned, scientific, literary men.
_homines docti_—learned, scientific, literary men.
_artium studia_ or _artes vigent_ (not _florent_)—learning, scientific
knowledge is flourishing.
_litterae iacent, neglectae iacent_[2]—scholarship, culture,
literature is at a low ebb.
_litteras colere_—to be engaged in the pursuit of letters.
_litteras amplecti_—to be an enthusiastic devotee of letters.
_litteras adamasse_ (only in perf. and plup.)—to be an enthusiastic
devotee of letters.
_in studio litterarum versari_—to be engaged in literary pursuits.
_in aliquo litterarum genere versari_—to be engaged in any branch of
study.
_summo studio in litteris versari_—to be an ardent student of...
_se totum litteris tradere, dedere_—to devote oneself entirely to
literature.
_se totum in litteras_ or _se litteris abdere_—to be quite engrossed
in literary studies.
_in litteris elaborare_ (De Sen. 8. 26)—to apply oneself very closely
to literary, scientific work.
_in litteris acquiescere_ or _conquiescere_—to find recreation in study.
_aetatem in litteris ducere, agere_—to devote one's life to science,
study.
_omne (otiosum) tempus in litteris consumere_—to devote all one's
leisure moments to study.
_omne studium in litteris collocare, ad litteras conferre_—to employ
all one's energies on literary work.
_optimarum artium studio incensum esse_—to be interested in, have a
taste for culture.
_litterarum studio trahi_—to feel an attraction for study.
_trahi, ferri ad litteras_—to feel an attraction for study.
_litterarum studia remittere_—to relax one's studies.
_intermissa studia revocare_—to resume one's studies.
_primis (ut dicitur)_[3] or _primoribus labris gustare_ or _attingere
litteras_—to have a superficial knowledge, a smattering of literature,
of the sciences.
_litterae_—literature.
_litterae ac monumenta_ or simply _monumenta_—written records;
documents.
_litterae latinae_[4]—Roman literature.
_clarissima litterarum lumina_—shining lights in the literary world.
_graecis litteris studere_—to study Greek literature.
_multum (mediocriter) in graecis litteris versari_—to be well
(slightly) acquainted with Greek literature.
[1] _littera_ in sing. = letter of the alphabet, e.g. _litteram nullam
ad me misit_. In plur. = 1. letters of the alphabet, characters (cf.
viii. 9); 2. a letter (_epistola_); 3. writings, books, e.g. _graecae
de philosophia litterae_; 4. literature, _graecas litteras discere_;
5. literary pursuits; 6. science; 7. culture, erudition, learning,
_erant in eo plurimae litterae, neque eae vulgares, sed interiores
quaedam et reconditae_.
[2] _iacēre_ metaphorically is used not only of things neglected and
abandoned, but of persons (cf. _frigere_) who have lost all their
political influence.
[3] Cf. Pro Caelio 12, 28 _extremis ut dicitur digitis attingere_.
[4] _latinus_ is only used of language and literature, _Romanus_ of
nationality.