Mid 19th century; earliest use found in The Athenaeum. From classical Latin litterōsus well versed in literature, cultured, erudite from littera + -ōsus.
Definition of literose in US English:
literose
adjectiveˈlɪtərəʊs
rare
Literary in a studied or affected way.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in The Athenaeum. From classical Latin litterōsus well versed in literature, cultured, erudite from littera + -ōsus.