资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

资料来源 : WordNet®

letters of administration
     n : legal document naming someone to administer an estate when
         no executor has been named