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You are here: Experts > Arts/Humanities > Writing > Etymology (Meaning of Words) > Letter etymology
Expert: Carol Pozefsky - 11/1/2009
Question
Hi,
Just a quick enquiry as to the origin of the word "letter", in relation to the form of message.
Does it have relation to the alphabetic word letter?
cheers
Answer
Hello, I hope you're having a fine weekend,
The word 'lettre' meaning knowledge of reading and writing, and book learning first appears in Old English in about 1150. 'Letter' as an alphabetic sign or written message appeared later; Etymologist Robert Barnhart gives the date as just before 1200 in the treatise 'Ancrene Riwle'.
'Letter' comes from the Latin word 'littera' meaning letter of the alphabet, and its plural 'litterae' meaning epistle, written documents, literature . Barnhart writes "It has been suggested especially by Hesychius, who was notorious for his improved words and assertions that Latin 'littera' was borrowed through Etruscan from the Greek 'diphthere' meaning tablet, since the Latin alphabet was adopted from the Greek. Howe4ver, Barnhart, continues , this theory has much against it.
The best to you always,
Carol P.
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