Definition of letter

The word "letter" has its roots in Old English. The word "letra" or "lettre" was derived from the Latin "litera," meaning a single stroke or stroke of a pen. This Latin word is thought to have been imitated from the Greek "equalon" meaning "writing tablet." In Old English, the word "letra" referred to a single stroke or character in writing, but it also came to be used to describe a written document or a message. By the 14th century, the word "letter" had evolved to specifically refer to a written communication between people, often formed of multiple written strokes or characters. Today, the word "letter" is used to encompass a wide range of written communications, from formal correspondence to emails and text messages.