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A man who could read; a scholar; a learned person; a man of letters. [Obs.] "Every one that could read . . . being accounted a clerk." Blackstone. He was no great clerk, but he was perfectly well versed in the interests of Europe. Burke.

A stereotype plate or any similar reproduction of ornament, or lettering, in relief. Cliché casting, a mode of obtaining an impression from a die or woodcut, or the like, by striking it suddenly upon metal which has been fused and is just becoming solid; also, the casting so obtained.

A clasp or holder for letters, papers, etc.

A number or letter put before a letter or quantity, known or unknown, to show how many times the latter is to be taken; as, 6x; bx; here 6 and b are coefficients of x.

One of a number of things allied in origin or nature; as, certain letters are cognates.

s collected; as: (a) A gathering or assemblage of objects or of persons. "A collection of letters." Macaulay.

The different arrangements of a number of objects, as letters, into groups.

tions or expositions on the whole or a part of the Scriptures or of some other work. This letter . . . was published by him with a severe commentary. Hallam.

Intercourse by words, letters, or messages; interchange of thoughts or opinions, by conference or other means; conference; correspondence. Argument . . . and friendly communication. Shak.

Imparting knowledge or information. Canonical and communicatory letters. Barrow.

d Whigs had concurred in paying honor to Walker. Makaulay. This concurs directly with the letter. Shak.

Expressive of sympathetic joy; as, a congratulatory letter.

an open sound called a vowel; a member of the spoken alphabet other than a vowel; also, a letter or character representing such a sound.

A continuant sound; a letter whose sound may be prolonged.

To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one.

The shortening of a word, or of two words, by the omission of a letter or letters, or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one; as, ne'er for never; can't for can not; don't for do not; it's for it is.

An imitation, transcript, or reproduction of an original work; as, a copy of a letter, an engraving, a painting, or a statue. I have not the vanity to think my copy equal to the original. Denham.

pying ink. See under Ink. -- Copying paper, thin unsized paper used for taking copies of letters, etc., in a copying press. -- Copying press, a machine for taking by pressure, an exact copy of letters, etc., written in copying ink.

or communion; especially, to hold intercourse or to communicate by sending and receiving letters; -- followed by with. After having been long in indirect communication with the exiled family, he [Atterbury] began to correspond directly with the Pretender. Macualay.

e; reciprocal exchange of civilities; especially, intercourse between persons by means of letters. Holding also good correspondence with the other great men in the state. Bacon. To facilitate correspondence between one part of London and another, was not originally one of the objects of the post office. Macualay.…