letter

noun

1. 1

   A symbol in an alphabet.

   There are twenty-six letters in the English alphabet.

   And a superscription also was written ouer him in letters of Greeke, and Latin, & Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE IEWES.

2. 2

   A written or printed communication, usually defined as longer and more formal than a note. (Sometimes specifically one that is on paper.)

   I wrote a letter to my sister about my life.

   The style of letters ought to be free, easy, and natural.

   The magician gave this to the young man and said to him,“ Go at such an hour of the night and stand before a pagan tomb and call the demons, and throw the letter into the air, and immediately they will come to you.” And the young man called the devils and threw the letter into the air, and the prince of darkness came,[…]

   He read the letter aloud. Sophia listened with the studied air of one for whom, even in these days, a title possessed some surreptitious allurement.

3. 3

   The literal meaning of something, as distinguished from its intended and remoter meaning (the spirit).

   In obedience to humane laws, we muſt obſerve the letter of the Law, where we can without doing violence to the reaſon of the Law and the intention of the Law-giver: but where they croſſe each other, the charity of the Law is to be preferred before its diſcipline, and the reaſon of it before the letter.

   I broke the letter of it to keep the sense.

   Some MEPs from some countries may have pocketed £2m more than I have by observing the letter but not the spirit of the rules.

4. 4

   Literature.

   Benjamin Franklin was multiskilled – a scientist, politician and a man of letters.

5. 5

   A division unit of a piece of law marked by a letter of the alphabet.

   Letter (b) constitutes an exception to this provision.

6. 6

   A size of paper, 8½ in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm).

7. 7

   A size of paper, 215 mm × 280 mm.

8. 8

   datedA single type; type, collectively; a style of type.

   Under these, thro’ a garden in which is an ample fountaine, was the King's printing-house, and that famous letter so much esteem’d.

9. 9

   Variant of varsity letterClipping of varsity letter.

verb

1. 1

   To print, inscribe, or paint letters on something.

2. 2

   To earn a varsity letter (award).

   I think Mom lettered in shot put her junior year.

noun

1. 1

   One who lets, or lets out.

   the letter of a room

   a blood-letter

2. 2

   archaicOne who retards or hinders.

noun

1. 1

   Variant of litterobsoleteAlternative form of litter.

Forms

plural

letters

past tense

lettered

past participle

lettered

present participle

lettering

third person singular

letters