I. ˈled.ə(r), -etə- noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English lettre, letter, from Old French lettre, from Latin littera, litera letter, litterae, plural, epistle, writing, literature; perhaps akin to Latin linere to daub, smear — more at lime
1.
a. : a conventional symbol usually written or printed representing alone or in combination a simple or compound speech sound, constituting one of the units of an alphabet, and often including the arabic numbers — compare acrophony , dactylology , semaphore
b. letters plural : alphabet
teach a child his letters
c. obsolete : alliteration
I will something affect the letter , for it argues facility — Shakespeare
2.
a. : a written or printed message intended for the perusal only of the person or organization to whom it is addressed : missive
a business letter should preferably be typed
b. : such a message enclosed in an addressed envelope and usually sealed
a table on which were several letters — evidently this was where mail was left for those in the house — Millen Brand
c. : an official communication conferring authority or status
a letter from the admiral admits him to the naval base
letter of absolution
conveying information or instructions
circular letter outlining requirements for admission
pastoral letter calling upon the people to resist — W.E.McManus
his contribution to the book was a letter from New York
serving as an introduction
asked her minister for a letter to the new church
or attesting to length, quality, or terms of employment
service letter
letter of recommendation
letter of appointment
d.
(1) Roman & civil law : rescript
(2) : a written communication issued from a court in attestation of an appointment or status or rights or duties
parliament is summoned by the king's … letter issued out of chancery — T.E.May
— usually used in plural
letters of adoption
letters of citizenship
3. letters plural but singular or plural in construction
a. : literary expression : literature , belles lettres
a polished novel which shows British letters at its best — Hunting's Monthly List
good letters have some significance in the health of the state — Ezra Pound
words exist before the art of letters — John Dewey
b. : scholarly attainment : learning
man of letters
more a friend of letters than a learned man himself — R.W.Southern
4. : the outward sense or significance : literal terms
rigorous insistence on the letter of the contract — Alvin Johnson
a decision dealing with human beings cannot be based on the letter of the law alone — F.M.Hechinger
— opposed to spirit
5.
a. : a single piece of type
b. : a style of type
roman letter
c. : type
a font of body letter
especially : a supply of type
can't set it without any letter
6. : the initial of a school or college awarded to a student for achievement usually in athletics
a rugged physique that helped him win football and basketball letters in college — Howard Rushmore
•
- to the letter
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
1. archaic : to write or carry letters
our people go backwards and forwards … lettering and messaging — Charles Dickens
2. : to win a school letter for athletic prowess
as a freshman he lettered in football — Tom Siler
transitive verb
1. : to set down in letters : print
few painters alive can letter a respectable caption on a portrait — P.M.Hollister
— often used with out
streamers on which are lettered out the names of historic battles — Elbridge Colby
2.
a. : to mark with letters : inscribe
letter a poster
letter a squad car
b. : to append letters to
numbers were lettered on all the books — Helen V. Samuelson
twelve companies, lettered from A to M, skipping J — W.H.Baumer
specifically : to impress alphabetical letters on (a page or book cover) near the fore edge parallel to the same letters of the thumb index
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: let (III) + -er
chiefly Britain : one that rents or leases