letter
English meaning: Letter
Definition
A letter is a written message sent to someone, or one of the signs such as a, b, c used to write words.
Example
“I got a letter from my grandmother.”
Another example: “The word 'knee' begins with a silent letter.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Everyday word for a written postal message, or a single alphabetic character. Note 'letter' is also a verb (to paint or inscribe text). In US sport, a student who 'earns a varsity letter' gains an emblem for their team.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Latin 'littera'.
Related Words
- midpoint
- marque
- cyrillic
- alphabet
- informing
- urging
- dated
- crater
- addressed
- asking
- vowel
- apology
Common Collocations
- write a letter
- capital letter
- silent letter
- open letter
- letter of resignation
Word Forms
letter (sing.); letters (pl.); lettering (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B