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letters

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Letters
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let⋅ter

1  [let-er]
Use letters in a Sentence
–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)
a. literature in general.
b. the profession of literature.
c. learning; knowledge, esp. of literature.
9. an emblem consisting of the initial or monogram of a school, awarded to a student for extracurricular activity, esp. 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, esp. a sport: He lettered in track at Harvard.
—Idiom
12. to the letter, to the last particular; precisely: His orders were carried out to the letter.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME, var. of lettre < OF < L littera alphabetic character, in pl., epistle, literature

Related forms:
let⋅ter⋅er, noun
let⋅ter⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
8. See literature.
Letters
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let⋅ter

2  [let-er]
–noun Chiefly British.
a person who lets, esp. one who rents out property.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME letere; see let 1 , -er 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To letters
let·ter   (lět'ər)   
n.  

    1. A written symbol or character representing a speech sound and being a component of an alphabet.

    2. A written symbol or character used in the graphemic representation of a word, such as the h in Thames. See Note at Thames.

    3. Literary culture; belles-lettres.

    4. Learning or knowledge, especially of literature.

    5. Literature or writing as a profession.

    6. A piece of type that prints a single character.

    7. A specific style of type.

    8. The characters in one style of type.

  2. A written or printed communication directed to a person or organization.

  3. A certified document granting rights to its bearer. Often used in the plural.

  4. Literal meaning: had to adhere to the letter of the law.

  5. letters (used with a sing. verb)

    1. Literary culture; belles-lettres.

    2. Learning or knowledge, especially of literature.

    3. Literature or writing as a profession.

    4. A piece of type that prints a single character.

    5. A specific style of type.

    6. The characters in one style of type.

  6. Printing

    1. A piece of type that prints a single character.

    2. A specific style of type.

    3. The characters in one style of type.

  7. An emblem in the shape of the initial of a school awarded for outstanding performance, especially in varsity athletics.

v.   let·tered, let·ter·ing, let·ters

v.   tr.

  1. To write letters on.

  2. To write in letters.

v.   intr.

  1. To write or form letters.

  2. To earn a school letter, as for outstanding athletic achievement: She lettered in three collegiate sports.


[Middle English, from Old French lettre, from Latin littera, perhaps from Etruscan, from Greek diphtherā, hide, leather, writing surface.]
let'ter·er n.
Synonyms: These nouns denote a written communication directed to another: received a letter of complaint; the Epistles of the New Testament; a missive of condolence; a thank-you note.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

letter 
c.1150, "graphic symbol, written character," from O.Fr. lettre, from L. littera "letter of the alphabet," of uncertain origin, perhaps from Gk. diphthera "tablet," with change of d- to l- as in lachrymose. The pl. litteræ in L. meant "epistle, written documents, literature," a sense first attested c.1225 in M.E., replacing O.E. ærendgewrit, lit. "errand-writing." School letter in sports, first awarded by U. of Chicago football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: let·ter
Function: noun
1 : a direct written statement addressed to an individual or organization; broadly : an official communication —see also COUNTERLETTER
determination letter
: a letter from an administrative agency (as the Internal Revenue Service) usually in response to a request in which a determination, decision, or ruling (as whether an organization qualifies as charitable) is made
information letter
: a letter from an administrative agency usually in response to a request that provides information and esp. that simply calls attention to an interpretation or principle of law
letter of intent
: a letter in which the intention to enter into a formal agreement (as a contract) or to take some specified action is stated
letter ro·ga·to·ry
/-'rO-g&-"tor-E/
Etymology: probably partial translation of Medieval Latin littera rogatoria letter of request
: a formal written request by a court to a court in a foreign jurisdiction to summon and examine a witness in accordance with that jurisdiction's procedures (as oral interrogatories) —usually used in pl.
90–day letter
: a letter from the Internal Revenue Service notifying a taxpayer of a determination of a deficiency
NOTE: A taxpayer has 90 days from the date of the mailing of the 90-day letter to petition for a redetermination of the deficiency in the U.S. Tax Court.
no–action letter
: a letter from an attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission recommending that the Commission take no prosecutorial action with regard to a suspected and investigated violation of SEC rules or regulations
opinion letter
: a letter in which an opinion (as of a court or attorney) is given
ruling letter
: DETERMINATION LETTER in this entry
30–day letter
: a letter from the Internal Revenue Service to a taxpayer who has been audited and disputes the auditor's determination that sets out the taxpayer's right to appeal
NOTE: A taxpayer has 30 days from the time of the mailing of the 30-day letter to respond.
2 : a written communication usually from a court containing a grant (as of a right) or an appointment —usually used in pl. <letters of guardianship>
letter of attorney
: POWER OF ATTORNEY
letter of marque
/-'märk/
Etymology: Anglo-French mark, marque right of retaliation, from Middle French marque, from Old Provençal marca, from marcar to mark, seize as pledge
: a letter from a government formerly used to grant a private person the power to seize the subjects of a foreign state; specifically : authority granted to a private person to fit out an armed ship to plunder the enemy —usually used in pl. —often used in the phrase letters of marque and reprisal letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water —U.S. Constitution article I>
letters of administration
: a letter from a probate court that appoints the addressee administrator of an estate
letters patent
: a letter (as from a government) that grants a designated person a right (as to property) and that is in a form open for public inspection : PATENT
letters testamentary
: a letter from a probate court that appoints or confirms the addressee as executor of an estate
3 : LETTER OF CREDIT
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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