Letter

['letə] or ['lɛtɚ]

Definition

(noun.) a written message addressed to a person or organization; 'mailed an indignant letter to the editor'.

(noun.) an award earned by participation in a school sport; 'he won letters in three sports'.

(noun.) the conventional characters of the alphabet used to represent speech; 'his grandmother taught him his letters'.

(noun.) a strictly literal interpretation (as distinct from the intention); 'he followed instructions to the letter'; 'he obeyed the letter of the law'.

(noun.) owner who lets another person use something (housing usually) for hire.

(verb.) mark letters on or mark with letters.

(verb.) set down or print with letters.

(verb.) win an athletic letter.

Editor: Trudy--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) One who lets or permits; one who lets anything for hire.

(n.) One who retards or hinders.

(n.) A mark or character used as the representative of a sound, or of an articulation of the human organs of speech; a first element of written language.

(n.) A written or printed communication; a message expressed in intelligible characters on something adapted to conveyance, as paper, parchment, etc.; an epistle.

(n.) A writing; an inscription.

(n.) Verbal expression; literal statement or meaning; exact signification or requirement.

(n.) A single type; type, collectively; a style of type.

(n.) Learning; erudition; as, a man of letters.

(n.) A letter; an epistle.

(v. t.) To impress with letters; to mark with letters or words; as, a book gilt and lettered.

Checked by Bryant

Synonyms and Synonymous

n. [1]. Alphabetic character.[2]. Epistle, note.[3]. Literal meaning, literal sense, verbal expression.

Typist: Yvette

Synonyms and Antonyms

SYN:Epistle, note, communication, message, missive

Inputed by Kirsten

Definition

n. a conventional mark to express a sound: a written or printed message: literal meaning: a printing-type: (pl.) learning literary culture.—v.t. to stamp letters upon.—ns. Lett′er-bal′ance a balance for testing the weight of a letter for post; Lett′er-board (print.) board on which matter in type is placed for keeping or convenience in handling; Lett′er-book a book in which letters or copies of letters are kept; Lett′er-box a box in a post-office at the door of a house &c. for receiving letters; Lett′er-carr′ier a postman; Lett′er-case a portable writing-desk.—adj. Lett′ered marked with letters: educated: versed in literature: belonging to learning (Lettered proof and Proof before letters; see Proof).—ns. Lett′erer; Lett′er-found′er one who founds or casts letters or types; Lett′ering the act of impressing letters: the letters impressed.—adj. Lett′erless illiterate.—ns. Lett′er-miss′ive an official letter on matters of common interest sent to members of a church: a letter from the sovereign addressed to a dean and chapter naming the person they are to elect bishop—also Royal letter; Lett′ern (same as Lectern); Lett′er-of-cred′it a letter authorising credit or cash to a certain sum to be paid to the bearer; Lett′er-of-marque (mé‹œk) a commission given to a private ship by a government to make reprisals on the vessels of another state.—adj. Lett′er-per′fect kept in the memory exactly (of an actor's part &c.).—ns. Lett′erpress letters impressed or matter printed from type as distinguished from engraving: a copying-press; Lett′ers-pā′tent a writing conferring a patent or authorising a person to enjoy some privilege so called because written on open sheets of parchment; Lett′er-stamp a post-office implement for defacing a postage-stamp: a stamp for imprinting dates &c. on letters or papers; Lett′er-wood the heart-wood of a tree found in British Guiana dark brown with darker spots somewhat resembling hieroglyphics; Lett′er-writ′er one who writes letters esp. for hire: a book containing forms for imitation in writing letters.—Letter of indication (see Circular); Letters of administration a document issued by court appointing an administrator of an intestate estate; Letters requisitory or rogatory an instrument by which a court of one country asks that of another to take certain evidence on its behalf; Lettre de cachet (see Cachet).

Edited by Clare