寫成的信（字母排成訊息）
把一個個字母排在一起，就拼成詞句、寫成一段訊息；裝進信封寄給人，那整封手寫或打字的訊息就叫一封 letter。學問與文學（letters）也走這條「寫下來的文字」的路。
a written letter (mail) · noun · A1
A written message you put in an envelope and send to someone.
信
核心畫面
A written sign that stands for a sound — one of the marks like A, B, C. From this single idea two paths grow: many letters strung together make a written message you send (a letter), and 'every exact letter' comes to mean following the precise written wording.
可以想成一個寫出來、用來代表某個聲音的記號，就是 A、B、C 這樣的字母。從這個最基本的「字母」出發，long 出兩…更多收起
可以想成一個寫出來、用來代表某個聲音的記號，就是 A、B、C 這樣的字母。從這個最基本的「字母」出發，long 出兩條主要的路：一是把許多字母排在一起寫成一封要寄出去的訊息（一封信）；二是「連每一個字母都照著」延伸出「照字面、照確切的措辭」的意思。動詞和美國校隊的布章，則是把「字母」這個記號真的寫上去、做成布塊。From the word’s history
In Latin, littera meant an alphabetic letter; its plural litterae came to mean a written message and also writings/literature — so the English senses (alphabet letter → written letter → letters = literature) share one root.
拉丁文 littera 本指「字母」，其複數 litterae 進一步指「書信」以及「文字、著作」。所以英文裡從「字母」到「書信」再到 letters（文學）其實同出一源，並非不相關的兩個字。
Online Etymology Dictionary, etymonline.com (letter)
From the picture
照確切的字面
從「一個個字母」延伸到「連每一個字都照著」：規則白紙黑字怎麼寫，就一字不差地照辦，重點在確切的字面措辭，而不是背後的精神或用意。
letter of the law · noun · A1
The exact words of a rule or agreement, rather than what the rule is really meant to do.
字面意思
做成布塊的字母（校隊榮譽）
把「字母」這個記號做成實物：在美國學校，把代表校名的那個大字母用布縫成一塊章，發給打校隊表現好的學生當榮譽。名詞是那塊布章，動詞 letter 就是「贏得這塊布章」。
sports letter (award) · noun · A1
In American schools, a large cloth letter sewn onto a jacket as a prize for playing on a sports team.
運動榮譽布章
動詞：把字母寫上去
把名詞「字母」直接當動作用：在某個東西上仔細地寫、畫、漆上字母或字。回到最核心的「字母」這個記號，只是這次是把它一筆一畫地做出來。
write/paint letters · verb · A1
To write or paint letters carefully onto something such as a sign.
寫上字母
Also in this word
a letter of the alphabet · noun · A1
A written sign such as A, B, or C that stands for a sound in a language.
字母
原始詞典資料14 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
letternoun詞源 1/ˈlɛtə/
- 1
A symbol in an alphabet.
- There are twenty-six letters in the English alphabet.
- And a superscription also was written ouer him in letters of Greeke, and Latin, & Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE IEWES.
- 2
A written or printed communication, usually defined as longer and more formal than a note. (Sometimes specifically one that is on paper.)
- I wrote a letter to my sister about my life.
- The style of letters ought to be free, easy, and natural.
- 3
The literal meaning of something, as distinguished from its intended and remoter meaning (the spirit).
- In obedience to humane laws, we muſt obſerve the letter of the Law, where we can without doing violence to the reaſon of the Law and the intention of the Law-giver: but where they croſſe each other, the charity of the Law is to be preferred before its diſcipline, and the reaſon of it before the letter.
- I broke the letter of it to keep the sense.
- 4
Literature.
- Benjamin Franklin was multiskilled – a scientist, politician and a man of letters.
- 5
lawA division unit of a piece of law marked by a letter of the alphabet.
- Letter (b) constitutes an exception to this provision.
- 6
A size of paper, 8½ in × 11 in (215.9 mm × 279.4 mm).
- 7
A size of paper, 215 mm × 280 mm.
- 8
datedmediaprintingpublishingA single type; type, collectively; a style of type.
- Under these, thro’ a garden in which is an ample fountaine, was the King's printing-house, and that famous letter so much esteem’d.
letterverb詞源 1/ˈlɛtə/
- 1
To print, inscribe, or paint letters on something.
- 2
To earn a varsity letter (award).
- I think Mom lettered in shot put her junior year.
letternoun詞源 2/ˈlɛtə/
- 1
One who lets, or lets out.
- the letter of a room
- a blood-letter
- 2
archaicOne who retards or hinders.
這個拼法也被記錄為下列字的變化形：
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。