letter English · revision 3148

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1150|origins=la littera}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈlet.ə/, US /ˈlet̬.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|lettre]],^(MWU 2024)^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|fro|lettre|t=character, letter; missive; in the plural, literature, learning]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|littera|t=letter of the alphabet]], also litera,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) whose plural litterae meant “an epistle, written documents, literature, learning”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The Latin word is of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline) Barnhart and Merriam-Webster relate it to Latin linere “to smear”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) Watkins proposed a borrowing via Etruscan from Greek diphthérā “tablet”,^(Etymonline) but Barnhart thinks this theory has everything against it, both the change of d- to l- and the early Latin spelling leitera.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb is from the noun.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The same Latin word gave [[literal]], [[literature]], [[illiterate]] and [[alliteration]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Knowledge of reading and writing, book learning: probably about 1150;^(Barnhart 1988) an alphabetic sign, and a written message, from probably before 1200, in the ''Ancrene Riwle''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Both Latin senses, a written message and a letter of the alphabet, came into English.^(Cresswell 2021) The alphabetic sense replaced Old English bōcstæf, literally “book-staff” (German Buchstabe),^(Etymonline) and the sense “epistle” replaced Old English ǣrendġewrit, literally “errand-writing”.^(Etymonline) The plural ''letters'', “literature, learning”, follows the Latin.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) In printing a letter is a piece of type, from 1563.^(OED 1989) A university degree shown by initials after a name is from 1888, and the cloth letter given as an award in school sports is attested by 1908, said to have begun with the University of Chicago football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg.^(Etymonline) The verb first meant “to instruct”, in the mid-15th century, now obsolete,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and “to mark with letters” from 1668.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1150 – book learning.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * before 1200 – alphabetic sign; written message.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * mid-15th century – verb, to instruct.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1563 – printing type.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1668 – verb, to mark with letters.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1888 – a university degree, as initials.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1908 – a school sports award.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A written symbol representing a speech sound, one of the [[character|alt=characters]] of an [[alphabet]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A written or printed message addressed to a person or organization, usually sent by [[post]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An official document granting rights, as ''letters patent''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # The literal meaning of something: ''the letter of the law''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''letters'': [[literature]]; learning.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(US)'' A cloth letter, the initial of a school, awarded for achievement in sports.^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To write or mark letters on.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(US)'' To win a school letter in sports.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[letterer]]

+ * [[letterless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[literacy]]

+ * [[literal]]

+ * [[literary]]

+ * [[literate]]

+ * [[literature]]

+ * [[illiterate]]

+ * [[alliteration]]

+ * [[obliterate]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate ''letter'', “one who lets”, as of property, is from 1552, and as part of compounds such as ''blood-letter'' from about 1400.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) An obsolete ''letter'', “one who hinders”, is from another verb let, “to hinder”.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}