Lit"er*a*ry (lĭt"ẽr*?*r?),a. [L.litterarius,literarius, fr.littera,litera, a letter: cf. F.littéraire. SeeLetter.]

1.Of or pertaining to letters or literature;pertaining to learning or learned men; as,literary fame; aliterary history;literary conversation.

He has long outlived his century, the term commonlyfixed as the test ofliterary merit.

2.Versed in, or acquainted with, literature;occupied with literature as a profession; connected with literatureor with men of letters; as, aliterary man.

In theliterary as well as fashionableworld.

Literary property.(a)Property which consists in written or printed compositions.(b)The exclusive right of publication asrecognized and limited by law.