Ta for the invite

SIR – I’m sorry to be a bore but, in answer to Kay Huntley (Letters, March 28), the earliest citation of invite used as a noun in Merriam-webster dates from 1628: “Such be to me, she said, as when the Invites / Of Juno summon you to Venus Rites” (Ovid’s Metamorphosis Englished by GS – George Sandys).

The Oxford English Dictionary cites examples from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries – surely long enough ago not to blame creeping Americanisation or those pesky young people. We really should relax about this. Paul Dunn

Crowborough, East Sussex

SIR – Why are we constantly being asked if we know what? Trevor Eagle

Otley, West Yorkshire