I. ˈle-tər noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French lettre, from Latin littera letter of the alphabet, litterae, plural, epistle, literature
Date: 13th century
1. : a symbol usually written or printed representing a speech sound and constituting a unit of an alphabet
2.
a. : a direct or personal written or printed message addressed to a person or organization
b. : a written communication containing a grant — usually used in plural
3. plural but singular or plural in construction
a. : literature , belles lettres
b. : learning
4. : the strict or outward sense or significance
the letter of the law
5.
a. : a single piece of type
b. : a style of type
6. : the initial of a school awarded to a student for achievement usually in athletics
II. verb
Date: 1668
transitive verb
1. : to set down in letters : print
2. : to mark with letters
intransitive verb
: to win an athletic letter
• let·ter·er -tər-ər noun
III. ˈle-tər noun
Date: 1552
: one that rents or leases