letters

let-ters · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Plural of letter; written characters representing sounds in speech.

  2. 2.

    Written messages sent to someone, typically through the postal system.

  3. 3.

    Literature or scholarly knowledge (usually in the phrase "man/woman of letters").

  4. 4.

    A school or university award for achievement, especially in athletics (especially in American English).

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    man/woman of letters — a scholar or writer
  • •
    to the letter — precisely; exactly as specified
  • •
    love letters — romantic correspondence
  • •
    letters of recommendation — formal written endorsements
  • •
    the Republic of Letters — the intellectual community (historical)

Related words

See also: alphabet, correspondence, letter, writing
Synonyms: characters, correspondence, missives

Etymology

From Latin littera ("letter, alphabetic character") + plural -s. The word has been in English since Old English, borrowed from Latin.