a canonical book of the Old Testament; comprehending the history of the Jews from the time of Cyrus's edict for their return, to the 20th year of Artaxerxes Longimanus. It specifies the number of Jews who returned, and Cyrus's proclamation for the rebuilding the temple, together with the laying its foundation, the obstruction it met with, and the finishing thereof in the reign of Darius.

The illustrious author of this book was also the restorer and publisher of the canon of the Old Testament. See BIBLE.

The books of Ezra, called in the English version the First and Second Book of Eldras, though held by some, particularly the Greeks, for canonical, are thrown by the English church into the number of apocryphal books, being only extant in Greek.

F.

F, THE fourth consonant, and fifth letter of the alphabet. The letter F is borrowed from the digamma or double gamma of the Æolians, as is evident from the inscription on the pedestal of the Colossus at Delos; and was undoubtedly formed from the old Hebrew vau: and though this letter is not found in the modern Greek alphabet, yet it was in the ancient one, from whence the Latins received it and transmitted it to us.

It is formed by a strong expression of the breath, and joining at the same time the upper teeth and under lip. It has but one form of sound, which has a great affinity with v and ph, the latter being written for it by us in all Greek words, as philosophy, &c. though the Italians write it filosofia.

The Romans for some time used an inverted F, Ἀ, instead of V consonant, which had no peculiar figure in their alphabet. Thus, in inscriptions we meet with TERMINAΛIT, DIΛI, &c. Lipsius and others say, that it was the emperor Claudius who introduced the use of the inverted digamma, or Ἀ: but it did not long subsist after his death; for Quintilian observes, that it was not used in his time.

F, or FA, in Musica, 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, defined for the bas.

F, in physical prescription, stands for Fiat, or "Let it be done." Thus f.s.a. signifies fiat secundum artem.

F, was also a numeral letter signifying 40; according to the verse,

Sexta quaterdenos gerit quae distat ab alpha.

And when a dash was added at top, thus Ἀ, it signified forty thousand.

F, in the civil law. Two f's joined together thus, Ἀ, signify the Pandects. See PANDECTS.

F, in the civil law, a stigma or brand put upon felons with a hot iron, on their being admitted to the benefit of clergy; by stat. 4 Hen. VII. c. 13.