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to the letter

to the let·ter
T t

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [too stressed th ee let-er]
    • /tu stressed ði ˈlɛt ər/
    • /tuː ðə ˈle.tə(r)/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [too stressed th ee let-er]
    • /tu stressed ði ˈlɛt ər/

Definitions of to the letter words

  • noun to the letter a written or printed communication addressed to a person or organization and usually transmitted by mail. 1
  • noun to the letter a symbol or character that is conventionally used in writing and printing to represent a speech sound and that is part of an alphabet. 1
  • noun to the letter a piece of printing type bearing such a symbol or character. 1
  • noun to the letter a particular style of type. 1
  • noun to the letter such types collectively. 1
  • noun to the letter Often, letters. a formal document granting a right or privilege. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of to the letter

First appearance:

before 1175
One of the 8% oldest English words
1175-1225; Middle English, variant of lettre < Old French < Latin littera alphabetic character, in plural, epistle, literature

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for To the letter

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

to the letter popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

to the letter usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for to the letter

adv to the letter

  • indisputably — not disputable or deniable; uncontestable. indisputable evidence.
  • literally — in the literal or strict sense: She failed to grasp the metaphor and interpreted the poem literally. What does the word mean literally?
  • literatim — word for word and letter for letter; in exactly the same words.

adj to the letter

  • literal — in accordance with, involving, or being the primary or strict meaning of the word or words; not figurative or metaphorical: the literal meaning of a word.

adjective to the letter

  • accurately — free from error or defect; consistent with a standard, rule, or model; precise; exact.
  • directly — in a direct line, way, or manner; straight: The path leads directly to the lake.
  • exactly — Without discrepancy (used to emphasize the accuracy of a figure or description).
  • gospel — the teachings of Jesus and the apostles; the Christian revelation.

adverb to the letter

  • closely — to put (something) in a position to obstruct an entrance, opening, etc.; shut.

Antonyms for to the letter

adjective to the letter

  • embellished — Simple past tense and past participle of embellish.

See also

Matching words

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