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h; a first element of written language. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew. Luke xxiii. 38.

Literate; educated; versed in literature. " Are you not lettered" Shak. The unlettered barbarians willingly accepted the aid of the lettered clergy, still chiefly of Roman birth, to reduce to writing the institutes of their forefathers. Milman.

One who makes, inscribes, or engraves, alphabetical letters.

See Letter, above.

The act or business of making, or marking with, letters, as by cutting or painting.

Not having a letter.

See Lecturn.

Print; letters and words impressed on paper or other material by types; -- often used of the reading matter in distinction from the illustrations. Letterpress printing, printing directly from type, in distinction from printing from plates.

Letters; literature. [Obs.] "To teach him letterure and courtesy." Chaucer.

The beautiful and highly elastic wood of a tree of the genus Brosimum (B. Aubletii), found in Guiana; -- so called from black spots in it which bear some resemblance to hieroglyphics; also called snakewood, and leopardwood. It is much used for bows and for walking sticks.

The old English or Gothic letter, in which the Early English manuscripts were written, and the first English books were printed. It was conspicuous for its blackness. See Type.

Written or printed in black letter; as, a black-letter manuscript or book.

One who, or that which, lets blood; a phlebotomist.

A circular letter, written or printed for the purpose of disseminating news. This was the name given to the earliest English newspapers.

See Letter, above.

Of or pertaining to a red letter; marked by red letters. Red- letter day, a day that is fortunate or auspicious; -- so called in allusion to the custom of marking holy days, or saints' days, in the old calendars with red letters.

The customary certificate of national character which neutral merchant vessels are bound to carry in time of war; a passport for a vessel and cargo.

A tenant or lessee who grants a lease to another.

The first letter of the English and of many other alphabets. The capital A of the alphabets of Middle and Western Europe, as also the small letter (a), besides the forms in Italic, black letter, etc., are all descended from the old Latin A, which was borrowed from the Greek Alpha, of the same form; and this was made fr…

The first three letters of the alphabet, used for the whole alphabet.