letter

Meanings

Noun

• A symbol in an alphabet.
• A written or printed communication, generally longer and more formal than a note.
• The literal meaning of something, as distinguished from its intended and remoter meaning (often contrasted with the spirit).
• Literature.
• A division unit of a piece of law marked by a letter of the alphabet.
• A size of paper, 8½ in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm, US paper sizes rounded to the nearest 5 mm).
• A size of paper, 215 mm × 280 mm.
• Short form of varsity letter
• A single type; type, collectively; a style of type.
• One who lets, or lets out.
• One who retards or hinders.

Verb

• To print, inscribe, or paint letters on something.
• To earn a varsity letter (award).

Related

Similar words

• bookstaff/bookstave

Narrower meaning words

• epistle
• missive

Origin

• From Middle English letter, lettre, from Old French letre, from Latin littera ("letter of the alphabet"; in plural, "epistle"), from Etruscan, from Ancient Greek διφθέρᾱ ("tablet"). Displaced native in sense 1 and ǣrendġewrit in sense 2. diphtheria.
• From Middle English letere, equivalent to let + -er.