Search the Dictionary

A capital letter; especially, one used in ancient manuscripts. See Majusculæ. Majuscule writing, writing composed wholly of capital letters, especially the style which prevailed in Europe from the third to the sixth century.

To make out. (a) To find out; to discover; to decipher; as, to make out the meaning of a letter. (b) To prove; to establish; as, the plaintiff was unable to make out his case. (c) To make complete or exact; as, he was not able to make out the money. -- To make over, to transfer the title of; to convey; to alienate; a…

d." 1 Pet. iv. 10. Manifold writing, a process or method by which several copies, as of a letter, are simultaneously made, sheets of coloring paper being infolded with thin sheets of plain paper upon which the marks made by a stylus or a type-writer are transferred.

." A man of mark, a conspicuous or eminent man. -- To make one's mark. (a) To sign, as a letter or other writing, by making a cross or other mark. (b) To make a distinct or lasting impression on the public mind, or on affairs; to gain distinction.

limits of a jurisdiction, or boundary of a country, for the purpose of making reprisals. Letters of marque, Letters of marque and reprisal, a license or extraordinary commission granted by a government to a private person to fit out a privateer or armed ship to cruise at sea and make prize of the enemy's ships and mer…

Geometry, including Trigonometry and Conic Sections. 3. Analysis, in which letters are used, including Algebra, Analytical Geometry, and Calculus. Each of these divisions is divided into pure or abstract, which considers magnitude or quantity abstractly, without relation to matter; and mixed or applied, which treats of…

y given germ cell each of these is either present or absent. The following example (using letters as symbols of the determining factors and hence also of the individuals possessing them) shows the operation of the law: Tallness being due to a factor T, a tall plant, arising by the union in fertilization of two germ cel…

A defect in pronouncing the letter m, or a too frequent use of it.

The art or act of rendering the letters of the alphabet of one language into the possible equivalents of another; transliteration. Stormonth.

A change in the letters or syllables of a word.

Transposition, as of the letters or syllables of a word; as, pistris for pristis; meagre for meager.

To paint or tinge with red lead or vermilion; also, to decorate with letters, or the like, painted red, as the page of a manuscript. T. Wharton.

Lettering in red; rubric distinction. [Obs.]

A small Roman letter which is neither capital nor uncial; a manuscript written in such letters. -- a.

a manner or form of backward writing, making manuscript resembling in slant and order of letters the reflection of ordinary writing in a mirror. The substitution of this manner of writing for the common manner is a symptom of some kinds of nervous disease.

to be unsuccessful; to suffer defeat. My ships have all miscarried. Shak. The cardinal's letters to the pope miscarried. Shak.

To give a wrong direction to; as, to misdirect a passenger, or a letter; to misdirect one's energies. Shenstone.

Specially sent; intended or prepared to be sent; as, a letter missive. Ayliffe.

A woman well skilled in anything, or having the mastery over it. A letter desires all young wives to make themselves mistresses of Wingate's Arithmetic. Addison.

A character or cipher composed of two or more letters interwoven or combined so as to represent a name, or a part of it (usually the initials). Monograms are often used on seals, ornamental pins, rings, buttons, and by painters, engravers, etc., to distinguish their works. Monogram.