letter

Mailed correspondence piece

The two main meanings of letter are closely connected with written language: there are the letters that compose an alphabet, and these can be combined into words and sentences to compose a letter—a written communication from one party to another.

Letters fashioned from cloth are sometimes awarded for athletic achievement in U.S. schools, which accounts for usages like “award a letter” and the verb letter: She lettered in both basketball and soccer.

When something is lettered, it is written as individual letters: “Happy Birthday, Joan” was lettered on the cake.

typography

font

Character style set

typefaceLettering style design
serifLetter terminal flourish
sans-serifType without terminal strokes

glyph · calligraphy · cursive · italic · bold · script · handwriting · kerning · ligature · swash

correspondence

envelope

Folded paper enclosure

stampMark-making device
postageFee for mailing
mailboxContainer for delivered mail

postcard · penpal · address · stationery · ink · parchment · postmark · snail-mail · airmail · courier

alphabet

abc

First three letters

vowelUnobstructed speech sound
consonantIn agreement with
phonemeMinimal distinctive sound unit

syllable · uppercase · lowercase · capital · diacritic · digraph · spelling · pronunciation · initial · final

document

lease

Temporary use contract

contractEnforceable written agreement
agreementShared position between parties
charterFounding organizational document

patent · credential · deed · certificate · warrant · writ · articles · license · credential · commission

literature

epistolary

Pertaining to letter-writing

scarletBright orangish-red color
anonymousOf unknown origin
confessionAdmission of wrongdoing

farewell · suicide · ransom · thank-you · condolence · apology · plea · declaration · love · lost

official

recommendation

Advised course of action

resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
acceptanceConsent to receive
rejectionDenial of acceptance

offer · appointment · termination · complaint · demand · cover · intent · reference · authorization · petition

Categories

communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
communicationsannouncement, telephone, address, phone, key messages
creative worksbooks, autobiography, memoir, novels, diary
informationdata, facts, details, knowledge, intel
languagelanguage, word, words, grammar, spelling
lettersa, d, e, h, q

Opposites

written correspondence vs. other communication modes

letterphone call

Remote voice conversation

telephone call · speech · conversation · verbal communication · voice call

alphabetic symbol vs. other symbolic units

letternumber

Symbol representing quantity

numeral · digit · figure · symbol · punctuation mark

letter vs. spirit (literal vs. intended meaning)

letterspirit

Soul, mood, or liquor

intent · essence · meaning · purpose · substance

Phrases

love letterWritten romantic declaration
chain letterSelf-replicating correspondence scheme
cover letterJob application preface
capital lettersLarger alphabet forms
letter gradesAlphabetic academic evaluations
form letterPrewritten mail for many

Family

letters, lettered, lettering, newsletter, letter of intent, letter of marque, letters of marque, letter carrier, letterbox

Familiarity: Top 3,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G