F

F, the fourth consonant and sixth letter of the English alphabet. The letter F is borrowed from the digamma or double gamma, $\backslash Phi$, of the Æolians, as is evident from the inscription on the pedestal of the Colossus at Delos; and though this letter is not found in the modern Greek alphabet, yet it was in the ancient one, whence the Latins received and transmitted it to us. It is formed by a forcible emission of the breath and placing at the same time the upper teeth on the under lip. It has but one sort of sound, which has a great affinity with $v$ and $ph$, the latter being used by us for the letter $\backslash phi$ in all words derived directly from the Greek. The Romans for some time used an inverted F, instead of V consonant, which had no peculiar figure in their alphabet. Thus, in inscriptions we meet with TERMINA^VIT, DIII, and so on. Lipsius and others say that it was the Emperor Claudius who introduced the use of the inverted digamma or $\backslash Phi$; but it did not long subsist after his death; for Quintilian states that it was not used in his time. F or FA, in Music, is the fourth note in rising in this order of the gamut, ut, re, mi, fa. It likewise denotes one of the Greek keys in music, destined for the bass. F, in medical prescriptions, stands for Fiat, or Let it be done; thus, f. s. a. signifies fiat secundum artem. F was also a numeral letter signifying forty; according to the verse,

Sexta quaterdenos gerit quem distat ab alpha.

And when a dash was added at top, thus, $\backslash text\{F\}^\{\backslash text\{—\}\}$, it signified forty thousand. In the civil law, two of these letters together, ff., signify the Pandects. In English criminal law (by stat. 4th Henry VII., cap. 13), this letter was branded on felons, on their being admitted to benefit of clergy.