1. One of the arbitrary marks or characters constituting the alphabet, and used in written’ language as the representatives of sounds or articulations of the human organs of speech. Several of the letters of the English alphabet have a special significance in jurisprudence, as abbreviations and otherwise, or are employed as numerals.

turned by the emperor to a question of law submitted to him by the magistrates.

—Litera Pisana. The Pisan letter. A term applied to the old character in which the copy of the Pandects formerly kept at Pisa, in Italy, was written. Spelman.