Added 3 October 2026
epistle
/ɪˈpɪs.əl/ noun
In Latin: epistola Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about epistle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A literary composition in the form of a letter or series of letters, especially one in verse.
- A letter, especially one which is formal or issued publicly. Chiefly with a qualifying word, as in epistle dedicatory: a letter of dedication addressed to a patron or reader published as a preface to a literary work.
- Chiefly with a qualifying word, as in epistle dedicatory: a letter of dedication addressed to a patron or reader published as a preface to a literary work.
verb
- To write (something) in, or in the form of, a letter. To write a letter to (someone). To write (something) as an introduction or preface to a literary work; also, to provide (a literary work) with an introduction or preface.
- To write (something) in, or in the form of, a letter.
- To write a letter to (someone).
Origin
PIE word *h₁epi The noun is derived from Middle English epistel, epistole, pistel (“letter; literary work in letter form; written legend or story; spoken communication; (Christianity) one of the letters by an apostle in the New Testament; extract from such a letter read as part of the Mass”) [and other forms], and then partly: * from Old English epistol, epistola, pistol (“letter, epistle”), from Latin epistola (“letter, epistle; literary work in letter form”) (whence Late Latin epistola (“one of the letters by an apostle in the New Testament”)), from Ancient Greek ἐπῐστολή (epĭstolḗ, “letter; message”), from ἐπῐστέλλω (epĭstéllō, “to inform by, or to send, a letter or message”) (from ἐπῐ- (.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)