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epistolary

adjective

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L336502 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ɪˈpɪst(ə)ˌl(ə)ɹi/ / /ɛ-/ / /ə-/

adj

Etymology: 1627, from Latin epistolārius, from epistola (“letter”) (English epistle) + -ārius, from Ancient Greek ἐπιστολή (epistolḗ) from ἐπιστέλλω (epistéllō, “to send a message”) from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + στέλλω (stéllō, “to prepare, send”). For the noun, compare Middle English pistelarie and Old English pistelari, both from Medieval Latin epistolārium, possibly via an unattested *epistelari, *epistolarie.

  1. Of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters.
  2. Carried on by written correspondence.

    an epistolary relationship

  3. In the manner of written correspondence.

    epistolary style

    an epistolary novel

noun

Etymology: 1627, from Latin epistolārius, from epistola (“letter”) (English epistle) + -ārius, from Ancient Greek ἐπιστολή (epistolḗ) from ἐπιστέλλω (epistéllō, “to send a message”) from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + στέλλω (stéllō, “to prepare, send”). For the noun, compare Middle English pistelarie and Old English pistelari, both from Medieval Latin epistolārium, possibly via an unattested *epistelari, *epistolarie.

  1. A Christian liturgical book containing set readings for church services from the New Testament Epistles.