The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

erudition \er`u*di"tion\ ([e^]r`[-u]*d[i^]sh"[u^]n), n. [L.
   eruditio: cf. F. ['e]rudition.]
   The act of instructing; the result of thorough instruction;
   the state of being erudite or learned; the acquisitions
   gained by extensive reading or study; particularly, learning
   in literature or criticism, as distinct from the sciences;
   scholarship.
   [1913 Webster]

         The management of a young lady's person is not be
         overlooked, but the erudition of her mind is much more
         to be regarded.                          --Steele.
   [1913 Webster]

         The gay young gentleman whose erudition sat so easily
         upon him.                                --Macaulay.

   Syn: Literature; learning. See Literature.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

erudition
    n 1: profound scholarly knowledge [syn: eruditeness,
         erudition, learnedness, learning, scholarship,
         encyclopedism, encyclopaedism]

The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906):

ERUDITION, n.  Dust shaken out of a book into an empty skull.

    So wide his erudition's mighty span,
    He knew Creation's origin and plan
    And only came by accident to grief --
    He thought, poor man, 'twas right to be a thief.
                                                           Romach Pute