letter
UK: ˈletə(r) | US: ˈlɛtər
n. a written or printed communication addressed to someone
n. a character representing one or more sounds in a language (e.g., alphabetic letters)
n. (plural) literature or scholarly knowledge
letter = lett<written mark> + er<noun suffix>
- lett<written mark>: Derived from Old French lettre, from Latin littera (letter of the alphabet, document).
- er<noun suffix>: A common English suffix forming nouns.
Etymology Origin:
The word letter traces back to Latin littera, meaning "alphabetic symbol" or "document." It entered English via Old French lettre, retaining its core meaning of a written character or message. The term reflects the ancient association between literacy and communication, evolving to encompass both individual symbols (letters of the alphabet) and composed texts (a letter to a friend).
She wrote a heartfelt letter to her grandmother.
The word "cat" has three letters.
He studied the letters of Shakespeare to understand his life.
Please mail this letter by tomorrow.
The professor was a man of letters, well-versed in classical literature.