Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Stephanus letter” come from?

Stephanus letter (English) comes from English letter, from Middle English letter, from Old French letre, from Latin littera, from Latin lītera, from Old Latin leitera, from Proto-Indo-European h₂leyH-, from Proto-Indo-European leyh₂- — to die, disapear; to avoid, elude, decline,...

Stephanus letter (English): A standard reference letter for a...

Definitions

  1. A standard reference letter for a...

Ancestry of “Stephanus letter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishletterA symbol in an alphabet; A written or printed...
2Middle Englishletter—
3Old Frenchletreletter
4Latinlitteraa letter of the alphabet; handwriting; letter,...
5Latinlītera—
6Old Latinleitera—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂leyH-to smear
8Proto-Indo-Europeanleyh₂-to die, disapear; to avoid, elude, decline,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyh₂- →