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letter

letter

159 7.2
The exact words of a rule or law rather than its intent
  • noun
  • /ˈlɛtər/
  • Formal
translation icon : letra
  • Came in a few weeks ago just to make sure everything was to the letter, which I thought was strange.
  • letter of the law
  • letter and the spirit
  • black-letter law

There's a spirit here and a letter here that is anti slavery.

Examples

  • And these are roles well within the spirit and letter of the Older Americans Act.

    Academic text (1991)
  • It was more just like according to the letter of the law.

  • So what does this letter actually mean?

  • It's a letter of intent for your son to sign.

  • Then as of now, I expect normal Crew Protocol to be followed, to the letter.

  • He says to follow it to the letter!

  • Your letter was most intriguing, madam.

  • Gray handed the servant over, thereby obeying the letter of Scott's order.

    Academic text (2011)
  • "The governor quickly scanned the letter from Sperry, his flight schedule, and the attendance projections.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I just want you to understand the letter of the law.

Idioms

to the letter
  • Formal
23 4.4

Act exactly as told, without changing any detail

Compounds

56 2.0

A written message that tells someone you have romantic feelings for them

cover letter
  • Formal
16 3.5

A short letter you send with a job application to introduce yourself and say why you fit the job

open letter
  • Literature
16 4.0

A letter written to one person but published for everyone to read to make people notice a problem

A letter someone sends without saying who they are

11 4.8

A message that asks you to send it to many people, often as a scam

11 2.1

A small tool with a thin blade for cutting envelopes

9 2.7

A message from someone who likes a famous person, showing praise or support

four-letter word
  • Offensive
9 7.7

A rude or offensive word with four letters used to show anger

A person who writes letters to send messages to other people

A written sign that stands for a sound in a language, like A or B

8 5.1

A written note that says a person or company plans to do something before a contract is signed

personal letter
  • Informal
7 1.0

A private written message sent to one person about personal matters

5 3.2

A letter sent to many people with the same text

4 2.3

A person who delivers mail and packages to homes and shops

scarlet letter
  • Literature
4 9.4

A mark that shows in public that someone is guilty and causes shame

A large letter that you use at the start of a sentence or name

3 7.6

An occasion like a wedding or graduation that you remember as very special

3 3.0

A single capital letter written clearly and not joined to other letters

red letter day
  • Informal
2 4.1

A day that is very special and makes people happy

2 4.4

An award made of cloth for students who play well on a school's main sports team

1 2.7

A formal letter from one company or person to another about business matters

1 5.5

A bank document that promises to pay a seller if a buyer meets certain conditions

letter bomb
  • Offensive
1 7.8

A small bomb hidden in an envelope that explodes when opened

Exactly correct in every word, matching the original text

A small letter of the alphabet that is not a capital

An honest written message that shows strong feelings

1 1.9

A letter that is not a capital letter

black letter
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A heavy old-style print with thick sharp letters used in early books

1 7.7

A piece of mail that cannot be delivered or returned to the sender

1 7.7

A law or rule that is no longer enforced

1 2.6

A formal letter that praises someone's success or achievement

1 3.4

A formal letter praising someone for an important success

crank letter
  • Offensive
1 8.6

A letter sent anonymously to threaten or upset someone

1 9.9

A thin cover worn on the penis during sex to prevent pregnancy and infection

1 1.0

A box or slot at a house where mail is delivered

runic letter
  • Literature
1 9.9

A letter from an old Germanic alphabet used long ago in northern Europe

A large letter that begins names and sentences

9.9

A formal way of writing legal rules using very exact words

5.6

A bank's written promise to pay a seller for goods when required papers arrive

A short letter that you send with other documents to explain them

9.9

A letter the pope sends to all Catholic bishops about Church teaching or practice

air letter
  • Archaic
6.4

A lightweight sheet that folds into its own envelope to send by air mail

A letter sent by air to another country so it arrives faster

A short rude English word of four letters that insults someone

A government paper that lets a private ship owner capture enemy ships and goods during war

9.9

Official government permission for a private ship to capture enemy ships and cargo

Letter of Jeremiah
  • Literature
9.9

A short religious letter warning Jews in Babylon not to worship idols

1.0

Paper in a common size used for writing letters

letter bond
  • Specialized
9.9

A loan not registered with the government and sold only to certain buyers

1.8

A numbered box at a post office that people rent to receive mail

1.8

A public box where people put letters for the post to collect

letter security
  • Specialized
9.4

A stock or bond not registered with the government that cannot be sold in public markets

letter stock
  • Specialized
8.9

Shares not registered with the government that cannot be sold to the public

letter telegram
  • Archaic
8.2

A cheaper written message sent abroad and delivered the next day

market letter
  • Jargon
6.2

A short report that gives news and advice about the stock market

7.7

A letter saying the buyer will keep shares and not sell them soon

night letter
  • Archaic
9.3

A telegram sent at night to arrive the next day for less money

A day you remember because it was very happy or important

An unsigned angry letter written to hurt or insult someone

An anonymous letter that says cruel things to hurt someone

polyphonic letter
  • Specialized
9.8

A letter that has two or more sounds in different words

A bank paper that lets a person get money while traveling abroad

6.0

A letter that shows too much love or strong feelings

How Literal

literalism
2 7.4
letter
  • Formal
159 7.2
intent
417 3.4
spirit
506 4.1

Surface Forms

letter singular
letters plural

Etymology

The phrase letter of the law uses the same Latin littera meaning 'the exact written words', so following the letter of the law means following the exact text, not just the idea.