Veda \Ve"da\ (?; 277), n. [Skr. v?da, properly, knowledge, from vid to know. See Wit.]

The ancient sacred literature of the Hindus; also, one of the four collections, called Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda, and Atharva-Veda, constituting the most ancient portions of that literature.

Note: The language of the Vedas is usually called Vedic Sanskrit, as distinguished from the later and more settled form called classical Sanskrit.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)