alphabet
al.pha.bet \'al-f*-.bet, -b*t\ n [ME alphabete, fr. LL alphabetum, fr. Gk alphabe-tos, fr.]alpha + be-t beta 1a: a set of letters or other characters with which one or more languages are written esp. if arranged in a customary order 1b: a system of signs or signals that serve as equivalents for letters 2: RUDIMENTS, ELEMENTS