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alphabet definition

al·pha·bet (al′fə bet′)

noun

  1. the letters of a language, arranged in a traditional order
  2. a system of characters, signs, or symbols used to indicate letters or speech sounds
  3. the first elements or principles, as of a branch of knowledge

Etymology: LL(Ec) alphabetum < LGr alphabētos < Gr alpha + bēta, the first two letters of the Greek alphabet

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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