LETTER Copy link • LETTER 1. A character of the alphabet, littera; litterae forma (e.g., eburnea): the letters, litterarum notae (Cic., Tusc., 1, 25): a large letter, littera grandis (opposed to littera minuta; Vid: Plaut., Bacch., 4, 19, 69; Cic., Verr., 4, 24, 74): with clear letters, litterate (Cic., Pis., 25, 61): capital letter, principium nominis (the initial; Vid: Plaut., Trin., 4, 2, 7, Ce est principium nomini). That which is written, scriptum (opposed to sententia, as Auct., ad Her., 1, 11, 19; or opposed to voluntas scriptoris auctoritasque, as Cic., Caecin., 23, 65): according to the letter, i. e., litterally, ad verbum; ad litteram: the letter of a law, verba ac litterae legis: to keep to the letter, scriptum sequi (opposed to scriptum negligere): the letter is of most avail, scriptum plurimum valet: letter and spirit [Vid: SPIRIT]: to write not a single letter, nullam litteram scribere (as an author). An epistle, litterae (☞ litterae, in this sense, like all other words found only in the plur., must have a distributive numeral, if any; e.g., twelve letters, duodenae litterae; not duodecim litterae, which would mean twelve letters of the alphabet. We should say duodecim epistolae, but not duodecim litterae, in this sense): epistola (as directed to a person at a distance and sent by a messenger): codicilli (directed to a person present, or in the neighborhood, a note, presents): tabellae (the leaves of a 1etter or note, by metonymy, for a letter or note). A letter in one’s own handwriting, litterae alicujus manu scriptae; chirographum an important letter, letter full of intelligence, liber gravis; epistola gravis et rerum plena: to write a letter, epistolam scribere, exarare (with the stilus): to write (send) a letter to anyone, dare litteras ad aliquem; litteras mittere alicui or ad aliquem (☞ not scribere ad aliquem): to write a very full or long letter to anyone, epistolam efficere ad aliquem: to address a letter to anyone, alicui inscribere epistolam: to answer a letter, rescribere litteris or ad litteras (epistolam); litteris or epistolae respondere: to conclude a letter, epistolam concludere: to conclude a letter with anything, epistolam claudere aliqua re (e.g., hoc mandato): to fold a letter, epistolam complicare: to seal a letter, epistolam signare, obsignare, signo suo or annuli sui sigillo imprimere: to put money into a letter, *pecuniam cum epistola conjungere; *pecuniam in eundem fasciculum, in quo est epistola, addere: to receive a letter from one person to another, epistolam accipere ab aliquo ad aliquem: to deliver a letter to the party to whom it is addressed, perferre litteras (epistolam) ad aliquem (☞ not dare litteras ad aliquem, which means “to write or send a letter”): to inclose one letter in another, epistolam cum altera conjungere; epistolam alteri jungere; epistolam in eundem fasciculum addere (☞ not epistolam in alteram includere): a letter inclosed, litterae adjectae, or adjunctae (not inclusae): to interchange letters with any one, cum aliquo per litteras colloqui or agere: letter-paper, plagula or charta epistolaris (Mart., 14, 11, title); a letter-carrier, tabellarius; qui litteras perfeit; epistolarum diribitor (one who delivers letters from the post-office): letter-box (in a post-office), *receptaculum epistolarum: a letter-drawer or case (for keeping letters in), scrinium epistolarum (Plin.). 2. v. inscribere; litteris incidere.