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A trifle which wastes time or distracts attention. Prevented from finishing them [the letters] a thousand avocations and dissipations. Swift. Dissipation of energy. Same as Degradation of energy, under Degradation.

parate, as into classes, orders, kinds, or species; to classify; to assort, as specimens, letters, etc.

cale pattern, while the tones in respect to absolute pitch are named from the first seven letters of the alphabet.

he paper, or to indorse the title or contents on the back of; to summarize; as, to docket letters and papers. Chesterfield.

in the dominical Gospels. Fuller. Dominical altar (Eccl.), the high altar. -- Dominical letter, the letter which, in almanacs, denotes Sunday, or the Lord's day (dies Domini). The first seven letters of the alphabet are used for this purpose, the same letter standing for Sunday during a whole year (except in leap yea…

e binding joists are framed. -- Double fugue (Mus.), a fugue on two subjects. -- Double letter. (a) (Print.) Two letters on one shank; a ligature.

of laws made by Draco. Their measures were so severe that they were said to be written in letters of blood; hence, any laws of excessive rigor.

To send, as a letter; as, please drop me a line, a letter, word.

Consisting of two letters only; biliteral. Stuart.

The fifth letter of the English alphabet.

The name of the Anglo-Saxon letter edh, capital form th in a similar word: oedher, other, dôedh, doth." March.

ut, striking out, etc.; to erase; to render illegible or indiscernible; as, to efface the letters on a monument, or the inscription on a coin.

One of the ultimate parts which are variously combined in anything; as, letters are the elements of written language; hence, also, a simple portion of that which is complex, as a shaft, lever, wheel, or any simple part in a machine; one of the essential ingredients of any mixture; a constituent part; as, quartz, feldsp…

The portion of a line formerly occupied by the letter m, then a square type, used as a unit by which to measure the amount of printed matter on a page; the square of the body of a type.

To chase; to ornament by embossing or engraving; as, to enchase a watch case. With golden letters . . . well enchased. Spenser.

ces; intended for many, or for a whole order of men; general; circular; as, an encyclical letter of a council, of a bishop, or the pope.

To form or be at the end of; as, the letter k ends the word back.

The final syllable or letter of a word; the part joined to the stem. See 3d Case, 5. Ending day, day of death. Chaucer.

To adorn by illuminating or ornamenting with colored and decorated letters and figures, as a book or manuscript. [R.] Palsgrave.

a case, wrapper, integument or the like; to surround entirely; as, to envelop goods or a letter; the fog envelops a ship. Nocturnal shades this world envelop. J. Philips.