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overt |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Letter \Let"ter\, n. [OE. lettre, F. lettre, OF letre, fr L. littera, litera, a letter; pl., an epistle, a writing, literature, fr linere, litum, to besmear, to spread or rub over because one of the earliest modes of writing was by graving the characters upon tablets smeared over or covered with wax. --Pliny, xiii. 11. See {Liniment}, and cf {Literal}.] 1. A mark or character used as the representative of a sound, or of an articulation of the human organs of speech; a first element of written language. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew. --Luke xxiii. 38. 2. A written or printed communication; a message expressed in intelligible characters on something adapted to conveyance, as paper, parchment, etc.; an epistle. The style of letters ought to be free easy, and natural. --Walsh. 3. A writing; an inscription. [Obs.] None could expound what this letter meant --Chaucer. 4. Verbal expression; literal statement or meaning; exact signification or requirement. We must observe the letter of the law, without doing violence to the reason of the law and the intention of the lawgiver. --Jer. Taylor. I broke the letter of it to keep the sense --Tennyson. 5. (Print.) A single type type collectively; a style of type Under these buildings . . . was the king's printing house, and that famous letter so much esteemed. --Evelyn. 6. pl Learning; erudition; as a man of letters. 7. pl A letter; an epistle. [Obs.] --Chaucer. {Dead letter}, {Drop letter}, etc See under {Dead}, {Drop}, etc {Letter book}, a book in which copies of letters are kept. {Letter box}, a box for the reception of letters to be mailed or delivered. {Letter carrier}, a person who carries letters; a postman; specif., an officer of the post office who carries letters to the persons to whom they are addressed, and collects letters to be mailed. {Letter cutter}, one who engraves letters or letter punches. {Letter lock}, a lock that can not be opened when fastened, unless certain movable lettered rings or disks forming a part of it are in such a position (indicated by a particular combination of the letters) as to permit the bolt to be withdrawn. A strange lock that opens with AMEN. --Beau. & Fl {Letter paper}, paper for writing letters on especially, a size of paper intermediate between note paper and foolscap. See {Paper}. {Letter punch}, a steel punch with a letter engraved on the end used in making the matrices for type {Letters of administration} (Law), the instrument by which an administrator or administratrix is authorized to administer the goods and estate of a deceased person. {Letter of attorney}, {Letter of credit}, etc See under {Attorney}, {Credit}, etc {Letter of license}, a paper by which creditors extend a debtor's time for paying his debts. {Letters close or clause} (Eng. Law.), letters or writs directed to particular persons for particular purposes, and hence closed or sealed on the outside; -- distinguished from letters patent. --Burrill. {Letters of orders} (Eccl.), a document duly signed and sealed, by which a bishop makes it known that he has regularly ordained a certain person as priest, deacon, etc {Letters patent}, {overt}, or {open} (Eng. Law), a writing executed and sealed, by which power and authority are granted to a person to do some act or enjoy some right as letters patent under the seal of England. {Letter-sheet envelope}, a stamped sheet of letter paper issued by the government, prepared to be folded and sealed for transmission by mail without an envelope. {Letters testamentary} (Law), an instrument granted by the proper officer to an executor after probate of a will authorizing him to act as executor. {Letter writer}. a One who writes letters. b A machine for copying letters. c A book giving directions and forms for the writing of letters. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Overt \O"vert\, a. [OF. overt, F. ouvert, p. p. of OF ovrir F. ouvrir to open of uncertain origin; cf It aprire OIt. also oprire L. aperire to open operire to cover, deoperire to uncover. Perch. from L. aperire influenced by F. couvrir to cover. Cf {Aperient}, {Cover}.] 1. Open to view; public; apparent; manifest. Overt and apparent virtues bring forth praise. --Bacon. 2. (Law) Not covert; open public; manifest; as an overt act of treason. --Macaulay. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act or on confession in open court. --Constitution of the U. S. Note: In criminal law, an overt act is an open done in pursuance and manifestation of a criminal design; the mere design or intent not being punishable without such act In English law, market overt is an open market; a pound overt is an open uncovered pound. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: overt adj : open and observable; not secret or hidden; "an overt lie"; "overt hostility"; "overt intelligence gathering" [syn: {open}] [ant: {covert}]
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