letter 
2. In iii'iiitnii/. :i typo bearing an alphabetical 
character: as, an initial liiti-r: broken Irftrr*. 
3. Alphabetical representation in general ; 
characters used in writing or printing collec- 
tively; hence, in i>rintini/, movable type M 
constituting complete) fonts: as, black-ter (ei- 
ther iu manuscript or impression, or as type) ; 
plenty or scarcity of Ictti r. 
It |tho Samaritan Pentateuchl seemed to me to be much 
later than that of Sir John Cotton's Library with us. I.. 
cause It wan of a much smaller Letter, and more broken in 
the Writing. which was all I am eapable to judge by. 
lAxter, Journey to Paris, p. 132. 
4. A missive communication made by the use 
of letters. Specifically (a) A written message, notice, 
or other expression of thought sent by one person to an- 
other ; an epistle : formerly In the plural with reference to 
a single communication. 
Furst the .Sowdon sent his letters owt, 
\\ ith massengers as fast as they cowde ride, 
To kyngcs and to princes all alwught, 
Generydet(E. Tl. T. S.X 1. 1891. 
I." heer the lettres seled of this thing, 
That 1 mot bore with al tho haste I may. 
Chaucer, Man of Law's Tale, 1. 038. 
I have a letter from her, 
Of such contents as you will wonder at. 
Skat., M. W. of W., IT. 6. 12. 
(6) An official or legal document granting some right, au- 
thority, or privilege to tho person or persons addressed or 
named In It : as, letters patent ; letters of administration. 
6f. An inscription. 
In al that loud magicien was noon 
That coude expoune what this ieitre mente. 
Chaucer, Monk's Tale, 1. 218. 
Be wryting of wees that wist it In dede, 
With sight for to serche, of horn that suet after, 
To ken all the crafte how the case felle, 
By lokyng of letlurs that lefte were of olde. 
of Tray (E. E. T. 8.), 1. 25. 
0. Literal or exact meaning; unglossed signifi- 
cation; that which is most plainly expressed 
by the words used: as, to adhere to the letter 
of the text. 
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testa- 
ment ; not of the letter, but of the spirit : for the letter 
kllleth, but the spirit giveth life. 2 Cor. ill. 6. 
By the letter and written word of Ood. we are without 
exception in the state of death. 
Sir T. Browne, Religio Medici, 1. 57. 
Tho special abuse of reverence is Idolatry, which is wor- 
shipping the letter instead of the spirit. 
J. F. Clarice, Self-Culture, p. 106. 
7. pi. Literature in general; hence, knowledge 
derived from books; literary culture; erudition: 
as, the republic of letters; a man of letters. 
Pericles was an able minister of state, an excellent ora- 
tor, and a man of letters. Swift, Nobles and Commons, 11. 
But the valuable thing in letters ... is, as we have of- 
ten remarked, tho judgment which forms itself insensibly 
in a fair mind along with fresh knowledge. 
it. Arnold, Literature and Dogma, Int. 
It (teachlngl wax wise in this, that it gave Its pupils 
some tincture of letters as distinguished from mere schol- 
arship. Lou-rU, Oration, Harvard, Nov. 8 ISSti. 
8. In inimical notation, same as letter-name. 
Ancillary letters, see ancillary. Apostolic letters. 
See bidl'-, 1 !. Ascending letter, in printing. Seeascend- 
ing. - Body letter, that kind of type in which the main 
portion of a book or paper is printed. E. It. Kniyht. 
Cacuminal letter. Same as cerebral letter. Canine 
letter, canonical letters, capital letters, cerebral 
letter, characteristic letter, circular letter, com- 
mendatory letters, commercial letter, criminal let- 
ters. See the adjectives. Communicatory letters. See 
cnmineiidatont letter*, under commendatory. Condensed 
letter, in frtnttng. see tin*. Dead letter, dead-letter 
office, see ilfuil. Descending letters, dlmlssory let- 
ter, dominical letter. See the adjectives. Double 
letters, in printing, the characters fl, II. ft, Hi, and 111 cast 
as single types, to prevent tho breaking of the beak of the 
f, which when used separately interferes with every fol- 
lowing ascending letter. The diphthongs ic and ce are also 
cast as double letters. Ecclesiastical letters. See ec- 
cletiastieal epistles, under ecclesiastical. Extended let- 
ter, in printing. See c.cifiu>.~ Inferior letter. In print- 
ing, a small letter printed at the bottom of the line. 
Initial letter, see initial. Kerned letter, a type in 
which some portion of the face overhangs the body, as 
the upper part of the letter f. Nearly all the long let- 
ters In italic and script fonts are kerned. E. II. Knifiht. 
King's letter, same as brief, 2 (d). Letter dismis- 
sory. Same as diitti*xortt letter. Letter missive, (fl) 
A letter of an official character sent to or intended for dif- 
ferent persons about some matter concerning all of them ; 
specifically, aiming Congrcgationalists, an identical letter 
issued by a church, by a member or members of a church 
feeling aggrieved, or by persons desirous of forming a 
church, calling a council of churches for advice or aid 
upon the subject or subjects mentioned in the letter. 
The council, being assembled as invited, is organized by 
being called to order by one of its older members, who 
reiuts fhe tett< > i/nW<v which is (lie authority for their pro- 
cedure. //. Jf. Dextrr, Congregationalism, iii 5 !. 
(6) In Emj. line: (1) A letter of courtesy written by the lord 
chancellor to any peer, peeress, or bishop against whom a 
bill is Hied, Informing the party of the complaint :in<l re- 
quest ing an appearance, sent in lien of summons. (2) A let- 
ter from the sovereign addressed to a ilean ami chapter, 
naming the person whom they arc required to eh it :i> M-.li 
op. Also called rounl letter. See extract under royal letter. 
Letter of allotment, attorney, baillery, credit, 11- 
3421 
cense. Hee allotment, etc. Letter of credence, seeer*. 
dence, _' Letter of marque. See manrue. Letter of 
mart*. Same as letter <>f marque. Letter of orders. 
See order. -Letter of recommendation. See ream- 
mendativn Letters avocatory. See avocatory. Let- 
ters clause or close, in /'"/. l>i<'\ letters in the name of 
the sovereign cluseii or scali <1 up with tin loyal .signet or 
privy seal. Letters of administration, the Instrument 
by which the court having jurisdiction of intestates' es- 
tates authenticates the apiioliitment of an administrator 
and authorizes him to proceed In the settlement of the es- 
tate. Letters of administration with the will an- 
nexed, letters of administration in a case where there is a 
will but no executor, as where the will omits to provide 
one, or the one designated doe* not accept the trust, and 
it therefore become* neceaury to appoint an administrator 
to carry the will into effect. Letters of caption. See 
caution Letters of collection, or letters of special 
administration, letters issued for the temporary pur- 
pose of enabling some one to collect and hold the niirtii, 
pending a controversy as to the right to have letters of ad- 
ministration or letters testamentary. Letters of ejec- 
tion, of exculpation, of fire and sword, of horning, of 
legitimation. See ejection, exculpation, fire, etc. Let- 
ters of intercommuning. See intereommtme. Let- 
ters of open doors. See open. Letters overt. Same 
as letters patent. Letters patent, an open letter under 
the seal of the state or nation, granting some prop'-rty, 
right, authority, privilege, or title ; more specifically, in 
modern late, such letters granting the exclusive right to 
use an invention or design. Letters patent are so called 
because they were commonly addressed by the sovereign to 
all subjects at large, and were not sealed up like a secret 
commission, but open, ready to be shown to whom It might 
concern. 
By the atoryty of dyvers letters patentes or charturs 
grauntld and confermyd by dyvers kynges of Ynglond. 
Englith QUdt (E. E. T. 8.), p. 328. 
With the exception of a few gap* in the reigns of John 
and Henry III., the letters-patent extend without break or 
flaw from the year 12OO to our own day. Unlike the close 
rolls, they are unsealed and exposed to view, hence their 
name. Encyc. Brit., XX. 311. 
Letters rogatory, an Instrument by which a court of one 
nation informs a court of a foreign nation that a certain 
claim is pending in the first-mentioned court, in which the 
testimony of certain witnesses who reside within the ju- 
risdiction of theforeign court Is required, and the foreign 
court Is requested to take their depositions, or cause them 
to be taken, in due course and fonn of law, for the further- 
ance of justice, usually adding to the request an offer on 
the part of the court making it to do the like for the other 
in a similar case. Benedict. Letters secret, letters or 
documents closed and sealed, and not for general perusal : 
opposed to letters patent. 
Two different methods of sealing documents, either 
closed or open for Inspection, are recorded In the legal 
terms letters secret and "letters patent." 
Encyc. Brit., XXI. 58fi. 
Letters testamentary, the instrument by which a court 
of probate authenticates the appointment of an executor 
under a will, and authorizes him to proceed In the admin- 
istration of the will. Lingual letter. Same as cerebral 
letter. Man of letters. See man. Monitory, mova- 
ble, nundinal, etc., letter. See the adjectives. Open 
letter, a letter designed for several or many persons; a 
letter to be passed from hand to hand, or to be published ; 
especially, a letter of private or personal import intended 
for general perusal. Paciftcal letter. See commenda- 
tory letters, under commendatory. Proof before letter. 
See proof. Provincial letter. See provincial. Regis- 
tered letter, a letter the address of which Is registered 
at a post-office for a special fee, In order to secure Its safe 
transmission, a receipt being given to the sender and by 
each postmaster and employee through whose hands ft 
passes. In the United States the receipt of the person ad- 
dressed is forwarded to the sender. Ribbon letter, an 
ornamental type or character whose design is taken from 
a ribbon laid In the shape required, with its doublings, 
folds, etc. Royal letter. Same as fetter missive (6) (2). 
The royal letters are a thing of course, 
A king, that would, might recommend his horse [to be 
bishop], 
And deans, no doubt, and chapter . with one voice, 
As bound in duty, would confirm the choice. 
Cmcper, Tirocinium, 1. 416. 
Signet letter. See siynet. Sunday letter. Same as 
dominical letter. See dominical. Superior letter, In 
printing, a small letter printed at the top of the line. 
Synodal letter. See bull*, 2. To expede letters. 
Seerj*d. To gain or lose letters, in teleg.,ln ABC 
instruments, to Indicate letters In advance of or behind 
the proper letter of the alphabet : said of the index when 
It is out of adjustment and points to the wrong part of 
the dial. The error may be continually one or more let- 
ters in advance or one or more letters behind the proper 
position, or it may be a varying one due to the index fall- 
ing to make the proper steps. To run one's letters. In 
Scots lav, to exercise the right an accused person has (un- 
der certain restrictions) of having his case tried before the 
circuit court sits In the locality in which the applicant is 
Imprisoned. (See also drop-fatter.) 
letter 3 (let'er), . t. [< letter^, .] To impress 
or engrave letters on ; mark or stamp with a 
title or an inscription: as, to letter a book; a 
l< 't, n<J stone or print. 
And ye talk together still, 
In the language wherewith Spring 
Letters cowslips on the hill? 
Tennyson, Adeline. 
letter-balance (let'er-bal'ans), . A machine 
for weighing letters, printed matter, or small 
packages, for mailing. 
letter-board (let'er-bord), n. 1. In printing, a 
strong movable board upon which types are 
placed for ilistribution or for temporary stow- 
age. 2. The broad smooth board on the out- 
lette ring-tool 
side of a railroad-car, above the cornice and 
windows, mi which is painted the name of the 
road or other legend. Also called frieze. 
letter-book (let'er-buk), n. A book in which 
letters are filed, or in which copies of letters 
are made, for preservation. 
letter-box (let'6r-boks), n. A box to receive 
letters, (a) A locked box fattened to a wall or pott In a 
public place, or conveniently placed for public use In a 
post office, in which letters are dropped to be collected 
and mailed at regular hours by the post-office carriers or 
clerks. 
The lion's head which served as a letter-box hai been Im- 
mortalised In that paper [the "Guardian-). It was In 
imitation of the famous lion at Venice. 
J. Aihton, Social Life In Reign of Queen Anne, I. 221. 
(&) One of a number of rented boxes In a post-office. In 
which letters are placed by the postmaster or clerk to be 
collected by the owners of the boxeaat their convenience. 
More commonly called simply box. 
Anybody hesitates a little In reference to going behind 
the letter-boxes and assisting In sotting the malls. 
W. if. Baiter. New Timothy, p. 218. 
(c) A box to receive letters, affixed at the entrance of a 
dwelling or place of business, usually upon the Inside of 
the door, with a silt through which letters may be thrust 
in from without. 
letter-carrier (let'er-kari-6r), . A man who 
delivers or collects letters in postal service ; a 
postman. 
letter-case (let'er-kas), n. 1. A case for con- 
taining letters; hence, a portable writing-desk 
or portfolio. 2. In printing, a type-case. See 
cose 2 , ., 6. 
letter-clip (let'er-klip), n. An implement, con- 
sisting of a pair of plates opening and closing 
on a spring, by means of which papers may be 
clasped firmly, so as to be hung up or kept to- 
gether. 
letter-cutter (let'er-kut'er), . One who cuts 
letters in or upon a surface, as of stone or 
metal ; specifically, in type-founding, a punch- 
cutter. 
letter-drop (let'er-drop), n. On a postal or mail 
railroad-car, a plate with an opening closed by 
a hinged flap, for receiving letters for the post 
along the route of the train, 
lettered (let'erd), . [< letted + -t<P. Cf. lit- 
erate.] 1. Literate; educated; versed in litera- 
ture or science. 
I.ere it thus, lewede men, for lettrede hit knoweth, 
Than treutho and trewe loue ys no tresour bettere. 
Piers Plowman (C), IL 135. 
Arm. Monsieur, are you not lettered f 
Moth. Yes, yes ; he teaches lioys the horn-book. 
Shot., L. L. L., T. 1. 48. 
2. Of or pertaining to learning; marked by or 
devoted to literary culture: as, lettered ease or 
retirement. 
And he, who to the lettered wealth 
Of ages adds the lore unpriced. 
WhiUier, Last Walk in Autumn. 
3. In zool. and hot., marked as if with letters; 
having spots which look like letters, or make 
the surface seem to be written over: as, the let- 
tered tortoise (Kmys xcripta) ; the lettered china- 
mark (Diagemiu literalin, a small brown British 
moth). 
letterer (let'er-r), n. One who letters; one 
who marks or cuts the letters of an inscription, 
a title, or tho like: as, a book-/t/terer. 
letter-file (let'er-fil), . A device for holding 
letters for reference. It may be a rod or pointed 
hook of metal mounted on a stand, or a clip, ease, box, or 
folio, with or without some arrangement to facilitate ref- 
erence. 
letter-founder (let'er-foun'der), H. Same as 
tyjie-founder. 
Our printing-house often wanted sorts, and there was 
no letter-founder in America. FranHin, Autobiog., p. 159. 
letter-founding (let'er-foun'ding), . Same as 
tl/pe-foMlldillll. 
letter-foundry (let'er-foun'dri), n. Same as 
type-foundry. 
letter-head (let'er-hed), n. 1. A printed form 
of address or advertisement at the head of a 
sheet of letter-paper. Also called letter-heading. 
2. A sheet of letter-paper so headed. 
He drew up a note upon the " tavern " letter-head. 
Harpers Mag., LXXVL 649. 
letter-heading (let'er -bed 'ing), n. Same as 
letter-head, 1. 
lettering (let'er-ing), w. [Verbal n. of letters, 
c.] iTxhe act of stamping or marking with 
letters. 2. The letters impressed or marked 
upon anything; any inscription, as on a sign- 
board, coin, or tombstone. 
lettering-box (let'er-ing-boks), . A small 
MM in which are kept the types used by book- 
binders for lettering books. 
lettering-tool (let'er-ing-tol). H. In bookbind- 
imj, a small box of brass mounted on a handle 
