Alphabet

so called from alpha and beta, the first two Greek letters, is the name given to a set of graphic signs, called letters, denoting elementary sounds, by the combination of which words can be visibly represented. Nearly 200 alphabets, ancient and modern, are knowr, of which about 50 are now in use. Most of them are developments from the prim- [ol ecreran ford oncen | caren feud pee ie eee BRIBE BoE [s}o [>| feToty fafatniete Paprlig fot elelalylalkliclx<[Kl ke RDO OIOoEso. ALPHABETS. itive Phenic i an alphabet, which was itself ultimately derived from _ the Egyptian hieroglyphic picture-writing.