Brewer's: Letters

Their proportionate use is as follows:

E . 1,000 H .. 540 F .. 236 K .. 88

T .. 770

R .. 528 W .. 190 J .. 55

A .. 728 D .. 392 Y .. 184 Q .. 50

I .. 704

L .. 360 P .. 168

X .. 46

S .. 680

U .. 296 G .. 168 Z .. 22

O .. 672 C .. 280 B .. 158

N .. 670 M .. 272 V .. 120

Consonants, 5,977. Vowels, 3,400.

As initial letters the order is very different, the proportion being:

S .. 1,194 M .. 439 W .. 272 Q .. 58

C .. 937 F .. 388 G .. 266 K .. 47

P .. 804 I .. 377 U .. 228 Y .. 23 A .. 574 E .. 340 O .. 206 Z . 18

T .. 571 H .. 308 V .. 172 X .. 4

D .. 505 L .. 298 N .. 153

B .. 463 R .. 291 J .. 69

is the most common letter (except in initials), and r, s, t, d, are the most common final letters. I and a are the only single letters which make words. Perhaps o, as a sign of the vocative case, should be added. Of two letters, an, at, and on are the most common, and of three letters the and and. (See Longwords.)

Letters.

Philo affirms that letters were invented by Abraham.

Many attribute the invention to Badamanth, the Assyrian.

Blair says they were invented by Memnon, the Egyptian, B.C. 1822. The same authority says that Menes invented hieroglyphics, and wrote in them a history of Egypt, B.C. 2122.

Josephus asserts that he had seen inscriptions by Seth, son of Adam. Lucan says:

Phoenices primi, famæ si creditur, ausi Mansuram rudibus vocem signare figuris.

Pharsalia, iii. 220.

Sir Richard Philips says- “Thoth, the Egyptian who invented current writing, lived between B.C. 2806 and 3000.”

Many maintain that Jehovah taught men written characters when He inscribed on stone the ten commandments. Of course, all these assertions have a similar value to mythology and fable.

Cadmos, the Phoenician, introduced sixteen of the Greek letters.

Simonides introduced, ; and Epicarmos introduced , . At least, so says Aristotle. (See Lacedemonian Letter, and Letter Of Pythagoras.)

Father of Letters (Pére des Lettres).

Francois I. of France (1494, 1515-1547). Lorenzo de' Medici, the Magnificient (1448-1492).

A man of letters.

A man of learning, of erudition.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894

Letters expletive, and marks on letters.

Letter of Uriah