Definition of letter

What does the word letter mean?

• part of speech: noun, transitive verb

  Character representing one or more of the simple or compound sounds used in speech, one of the alphabetic symbols (capital, roman, italic, l.); (Print.) type, fount of type; (pl.) lettering, inscription, (now only in proof before ll.); missive, epistle, (l. of advice, notifying dispatch of goods, drawing of bill, &c.; l. of attorney, =power of attorney); (pl.) epistle of legal or formal kind for various purposes (ll. PATENT, of ADMINISTRATION, &C.); precise terms of statement (to the l., with adherence to every detail), strict verbal interpretation (opp. spirit); (pl.) literature, acquaintance with books, erudition, (man of ll., scholar, author; commonwealth or republic of ll., authors as a body; the profession of ll., authorship), whence letterd a.; l.-balance, for ascertaining postage of ll.; l.-book, in which copies of correspondence are kept; l.-bound, too sub servient to the l.; l.-box, in which ll. are posted; l.-card, folded card with gummed edge for use as postal missive; l.-case, pocket-book for holding ll.; l.-lock, kind of padlock opened by making out of certain ll. on it a word known to owner; l.-paper, quarto-sized paper for ll.; l.-perfect (Theatr.), knowing one\'s part perfectly; letterpress, contents of illustrated book other than the illustrations, printed matter relating to illustration; l.-weight, =l.-balance, also thing used to keep papers still on table; l.-worship, undue devotion to the l.; l.-writer, lit., also as title for manuals of l.-writing; hence letterless a. (Vb) impress title &c. on (book-cover); classify with ll.; hence lettering (1, 6) n. [old French]

• part of speech: noun

  ll. of business, royal authority to Convocation to deal with a matter.