letter

Etymology 1

From Middle English letter, lettre, from Old French letre, from Latin littera (“letter of the alphabet"; in plural, "epistle”), from Etruscan, from Ancient Greek διφθέρᾱ (diphthérā, “tablet”). Related to diphtheria. Displaced Old English bōcstæf (literally “book staff”) in sense 1 and ǣrendġewrit (literally “message writing”) in sense 2.

noun

1. A symbol in an alphabet.
   There are twenty-six letters in the English alphabet.
2. A written or printed communication, generally longer and more formal than a note.
   I wrote a letter to my sister about my life.
   The style of letters ought to be free, easy, and natural. 1692, William Walsh, “Preface”, in Letters and Poems, Amorous and Gallant
   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,[…] 1892, P.A.C., edited by Charlotte Porter and Helen A. Clarke, Poet Lore: A Magazine of Letters, volume 4, New York, N.Y.: AMS Reprint Company, →OCLC, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s ‘Golden Legend’ and its Analogues, page 94
3. The literal meaning of something, as distinguished from its intended and remoter meaning (the spirit).
   Some MEPs from some countries may have pocketed £2m more than I have by observing the letter but not the spirit of the rules. 23 February 2009, Laurence Peter, quoting Chris Davies, “Euro MP expenses 'can reach £1m'”, in BBC News, archived from the original on 2012-01-10
4. (plural) Literature.
   Benjamin Franklin was multiskilled – a scientist, politician and a man of letters.
5. (law) A division unit of a piece of law marked by a letter of the alphabet.
   Letter (b) constitutes an exception to this provision.
6. (US, uncountable) A size of paper, 8½ in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm, US paper sizes rounded to the nearest 5 mm).
7. (Canada, uncountable) A size of paper, 215 mm × 280 mm.
8. (US, scholastic) Clipping of varsity letter.
9. (printing, dated) A single type; type, collectively; a style of type.

verb

1. (transitive) To print, inscribe, or paint letters on something.
2. (intransitive, US, scholastic) To earn a varsity letter (award).

Etymology 2

From Middle English letere, equivalent to let + -er.

noun

1. One who lets, or lets out.
   the letter of a room
   a blood-letter
2. (archaic) One who retards or hinders.