20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said means for determining the length and direction comprises: means for counting the number of said pixels constituting said primitive said primitive having an original feature point and a terminal feature point; and means for measuring: the angle formed with horizontal by an imaginary straight line between original and terminal feature points, the angle formed with horizontal by an imaginary straight line between said original feature point and a pixel adjacent said original feature point; and the angle formed with horizontal by an imaginary straight line between said terminal feature point and a pixel adjacent said terminal feature point.
19. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said classifying comprises: means for determining the length and direction of each of said primitives; and means for comparing said length, direction and sequence of said primitives for said word with primitives of words stored in a memory device and for generating a list of words having a high probability of matching said word.