An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. Writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays.
   

2. The entire body of writings of a specific language, period, people, etc.
   

3. The writings dealing with a particular subject (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): From L. literatura/litteratura “writing, grammar, learning,” from litera/littera “letter.”

Etymology (PE): Neveštârgân, from neveštâr, literally “written; writing,” verbal noun from neveštan, nevis- “to write;” Mid.Pers. nibištan, nibes- “to write;” Av./O.Pers. nī- “down; in, into,” → ni- (PIE), + paēs- “to paint; to adorn,” paēsa- “adornment” (Mid.Pers. pēsīdan “to adorn”); O.Pers. pais- “to adorn, cut, engrave” (Mod.Pers. pisé “variegated”); cf. Skt. piśáti “adorns; cuts;” Gk. poikilos “multicolored;” L. pingit “embroiders, paints;” O.C.S. pisati “to write;” O.H.G. fēh “multicolored;” Lith. piēšti “to draw, adorn;” PIE base *peik- “colored, speckled,” + -gân suffix of suffix forming plural entities, from Mid.Pers. -gânag.