letter1

[let-er] /ˈlɛt ər/
noun
1.
a written or printed communication addressed to a person or organization and usually transmitted by mail.
2.
a symbol or character that is conventionally used in writing and printing to represent a speech sound and that is part of an alphabet.
3.
a piece of printing type bearing such a symbol or character.
4.
a particular style of type.
5.
such types collectively.
6.
Often, letters. a formal document granting a right or privilege.
7.
actual terms or wording; literal meaning, as distinct from implied meaning or intent (opposed to spirit):
the letter of the law.
8.
letters, (used with a singular or plural verb)
  1. literature in general.
  2. the profession of literature.
  3. learning; knowledge, especially of literature.
9.
an emblem consisting of the initial or monogram of a school, awarded to a student for extracurricular activity, especially in athletics.
verb (used with object)
10.
to mark or write with letters; inscribe.
verb (used without object)
11.
to earn a letter in an interscholastic or intercollegiate activity, especially a sport:
He lettered in track at Harvard.
Idioms
12.
to the letter, to the last particular; precisely:
His orders were carried out to the letter.
Origin
1175-1225; Middle English, variant of lettre < Old French < Latin littera alphabetic character, in plural, epistle, literature
Related forms
letterer, noun
letterless, adjective
Synonyms
8. See literature.

letter2

[let-er] /ˈlɛt ər/
noun, Chiefly British
1.
a person who lets, especially one who rents out property.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English letere; see let1, -er1
Examples from the web for letters
  • Or use self-adhesive letters sold in sheets by type and style in art stores.
  • letters following each listing refer to sources listed below.
  • From still further up the river, the traders may furnish a conveyance for letters.
  • There was a cryptogram and four letters, each thought to offer different clues to the treasure.
  • letters should reflect students' understanding of the importance of being thoughtful when they make decisions.
  • Ask students to write letters to the funding sources requesting additional funds.
  • Have students write pretend letters to the people who live near the volcano or in the earthquake zone they chose above.
  • The following e-mail letters were received from readers worldwide.
  • Most applicants write poor cover letters that bear no relationship to what goes on in a particular department or school.
  • However, when written by conscientious people, letters do have value.
British Dictionary definitions for letters

letters

/ˈlɛtəz/
noun (functioning as pl or singular)
1.
literary knowledge, ability, or learning: a man of letters
2.
literary culture in general
3.
an official title, degree, etc, indicated by an abbreviation: letters after one's name

letter

/ˈlɛtə/
noun
1.
any of a set of conventional symbols used in writing or printing a language, each symbol being associated with a group of phonetic values in the language; character of the alphabet
2.
a written or printed communication addressed to a person, company, etc, usually sent by post in an envelope related adjective epistolary
3.
the letter, the strict legalistic or pedantic interpretation of the meaning of an agreement, document, etc; exact wording as distinct from actual intention (esp in the phrase the letter of the law) Compare spirit1 (sense 10)
4.
(printing, archaic) a style of typeface: a fancy letter
5.
to the letter
  1. following the literal interpretation or wording exactly
  2. attending to every detail
verb
6.
to write or mark letters on (a sign, etc), esp by hand
7.
(transitive) to set down or print using letters
See also letters
Derived Forms
letterer, noun
Word Origin
C13: from Old French lettre, from Latin littera letter of the alphabet
Word Origin and History for letters
n.

"the profession of authorship or literature," mid-13c., from plural of letter (n.).

letter

n.

c.1200, "graphic symbol, alphabetic sign, written character," from Old French letre (10c., Modern French lettre) "character, letter; missive, note," in plural, "literature, writing, learning," from Latin littera (also litera) "letter of the alphabet," of uncertain origin, perhaps via Etruscan from Greek diphthera "tablet," with change of d- to l- as in lachrymose. In this sense it replaced Old English bocstæf, literally "book staff" (cf. German Buchstabe "letter, character," from Old High German buohstab, from Proto-Germanic *bok-staba-m).

Latin littera also meant "a writing, document, record," and in plural litteræ "a letter, epistle," a sense first attested in English early 13c., replacing Old English ærendgewrit, literally "errand-writing." The Latin plural also meant "literature, books," and figuratively "learning, liberal education, schooling" (see letters). School letter in sports, attested by 1908, were said to have been first awarded by University of Chicago football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. Expression to the letter "precisely" is from 1520s (earlier as after the letter). Letter-perfect is from 1845, originally in theater jargon, in reference to an actor knowing the lines exactly. Letter-press, in reference to matter printed from relief surfaces, is from 1840.

"one who lets" in any sense, c.1400, agent noun from let (v.).

v.

"to write in letters," 1660s, from letter (n.1). Earlier it meant "to instruct" (mid-15c.). Related: Lettered; lettering.

Slang definitions & phrases for letters

letter

Related Terms

dead horse, french letter, poison-pen letter, red-letter day


letters in the Bible

in Rom. 2:27, 29 means the outward form. The "oldness of the letter" (7:6) is a phrase which denotes the old way of literal outward obedience to the law as a system of mere external rules of conduct. In 2 Cor. 3:6, "the letter" means the Mosaic law as a written law. (See WRITING.)

Idioms and Phrases with letters

letter

In addition to the idiom beginning with
letter
also see: