E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Letters.
Their proportionate use is as follows:—
1
E . 1,000
T .. 770
A .. 728
I .. 704
S .. 680
O .. 672
N .. 670
H .. 540
R .. 528
D .. 392
L .. 360
U .. 296
C .. 280
M .. 272
F .. 236
W .. 190
Y .. 184
P .. 168
G .. 168
B .. 158
V .. 120
K .. 88
J .. 55
Q .. 50
X .. 46
Z .. 22
Consonants, 5,977. Vowels, 3,400.
2
As initial letters the order is very different, the proportion being:—
3
S .. 1,194
C .. 937
P .. 804
A .. 574
T .. 571
D .. 505
B .. 463
M .. 439
F .. 388
I .. 377
E .. 340
H .. 308
L .. 298
R .. 291
W .. 272
G .. 266
U .. 228
O .. 206
V .. 172
N .. 153
J .. 69
Q .. 58
K .. 47
Y .. 23
Z .. 18
X .. 4
E 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 LONG WORDS.)
Letters. Philo affirms that letters were invented by Abraham.
4
Many attribute the invention to Badamanth, the Assyrian.
5
Blair says they were invented by Memnon, the Egyptian, B.C. 1822.
6
The same authority says that Mens invented hieroglyphics, and wrote in them a history of Egypt, B.C. 2122.
7
Josephus asserts that he had seen inscriptions by Seth, son of Adam.
8
Lucan says:—
9
“Phœni’cs primi, famæ si creditur, ausi
Mansu’ram ru’dibus vocem signa’re figu’ris.”
Pharsalia, iii. 220.
Sir Richard Philips says—“Thoth, the Egyptian who invented current writing, lived between B.C. 2806 and 3000.”
10
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.
11
Cadmos, the Phœnician, introduced sixteen of the Greek letters.
12
Simon’ids introduced , , ; and Epicarmos introduced , . At least, so says Aristotle. (See LACEDEMONIAN LETTER, and LETTER OF PYTHAGORAS.)
13
Father of Letters (Père des Lettres). François I. of France (1494, 1515–1547).
14
Lorenzo de’ Medici, the Magnificent (1448–1492).
15
A man of letters. A man of learning, of erudition.
E is the most common letter (except in initials), and r, s, t, d, are the most common final letters.
s invented hieroglyphics, and wrote in them a history of Egypt, 
, 
, 
; and Epicarmos introduced 
, 
. At least, so says Aristotle. (See L
