letter: [13] The distant ancestry of the word letter has never been satisfactorily explained. One possible candidate as a source that has been put forward is Greek diphthérai ‘writing tablets’. But the earliest precursor that can be positively identified is Latin littera. This meant ‘alphabetic symbol’, or in the plural ‘document’ and ‘epistle’. English acquired it via Old French lettre. Also from Latin littera are English literature and obliterate [16], which means etymologically ‘remove letters’. => literature, obliterate
letter (n.1)
c. 1200, "graphic symbol, alphabetic sign, written character," from Old French letre (10c., Modern French lettre) "character, letter; missive, note," in plural, "literature, writing, learning," from Latin littera (also litera) "letter of the alphabet," of uncertain origin, perhaps via Etruscan from Greek diphthera "tablet," with change of d- to l- as in lachrymose. In this sense it replaced Old English bocstæf, literally "book staff" (compare German Buchstabe "letter, character," from Old High German buohstab, from Proto-Germanic *bok-staba-m).
Latin littera also meant "a writing, document, record," and in
plural litteræ "a letter, epistle," a sense first attested in English early 13c., replacing Old English ærendgewrit, literally "errand-writing." The Latin plural also meant "literature, books," and figuratively "learning, liberal education, schooling" (see letters). School letter in sports, attested by 1908, were said to have been first awarded by University of Chicago football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. Expression to the letter "precisely" is from 1520s (earlier as after the letter). Letter-perfect is from 1845, originally in theater jargon, in reference to an actor knowing the lines exactly. Letter-press, in reference to matter printed from relief surfaces, is from 1840.
letter (v.)
"to write in letters," 1660s, from letter (n.1). Earlier it meant "to instruct" (mid-15c.). Related: Lettered; lettering.
letter (n.2)
"one who lets" in any sense, c. 1400, agent noun from let (v.).
双语例句
1. The letter merely restated the law of the land.
这封信只不过重复了一下土地法。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The letter was short — a simple recitation of their problem.
信写得很短——只是简单地说了一下他们的问题。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The things that stuck out were his cockiness and his four-letter words.
与众不同之处在于他的骄傲自大和满嘴脏话。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The letter showed horribly clearly the workings of a twisted mind.
那封信非常清楚地表明了一个变态者的思维方式。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The spokesman said the tone of the letter was very friendly.
