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letter

letter

48 7.2
The exact words of a rule or law rather than its intent
  • noun
  • /ˈlɛtər/
  • Formal
: 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
28 4.4

Act exactly as told, without changing any detail

Compounds

65 2.0

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

four-letter word
  • Offensive
24 7.7

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

open letter
  • Literature
19 4.0

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

13 2.1

A small tool with a thin blade for cutting envelopes

13 2.5

A person who writes letters to send messages to other people

cover letter
  • Formal
13 3.5

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

A letter someone sends without saying who they are

scarlet letter
  • Literature
12 9.4

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

11 4.8

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

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

10 2.7

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

personal letter
  • Informal
10 1.0

A private written message sent to one person about personal matters

9 5.1

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

7 3.2

A letter sent to many people with the same text

5 2.3

A person who delivers mail and packages to homes and shops

letter bomb
  • Offensive
5 7.8

A small bomb hidden in an envelope that explodes when opened

4 7.6

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

4 3.0

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

red letter day
  • Informal
4 4.1

A day that is very special and makes people happy

3 7.7

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

A day you remember because it was very happy or important

A small letter of the alphabet that is not a capital

2 2.7

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

2 4.4

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

2 1.9

A letter that is not a capital letter

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

2 1.0

A box or slot at a house where mail is delivered

2 7.7

A law or rule that is no longer enforced

2 5.5

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

Exactly correct in every word, matching the original text

1 1.0

Paper in a common size used for writing letters

An honest written message that shows strong feelings

black letter
  • Archaic
1 9.9

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

1 1.8

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

A large letter that begins names and sentences

crank letter
  • Offensive
1 8.6

A letter sent anonymously to threaten or upset someone

1 9.9

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

1 9.9

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

1 3.4

A formal letter praising someone for an important success

1 2.6

A formal letter that praises someone's success or achievement

1 8.5

An anonymous letter that says cruel things to hurt someone

1 1.8

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

1 9.9

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

1 7.7

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

night letter
  • Archaic
1 9.3

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

air letter
  • Archaic
1 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

An unsigned angry letter written to hurt or insult someone

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

runic letter
  • Literature
1 9.9

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

letter telegram
  • Archaic
1 8.2

A cheaper written message sent abroad and delivered the next day

market letter
  • Jargon
1 6.2

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

letter stock
  • Specialized
1 8.9

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

1 5.6

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

A short rude English word of four letters that insults someone

9.9

A formal way of writing legal rules using very exact words

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

Letter of Jeremiah
  • Literature
9.9

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

letter bond
  • Specialized
9.9

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

letter security
  • Specialized
9.4

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

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
3 7.4
letter
  • Formal
48 7.2
intent
412 3.4
spirit
422 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.