Definition: Epistle
Etymology
From Middle English epistel, epistole, pistel (letter, literary work in letter form, written legend or story, spoken communication, 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), as well as 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 or epistolḗ (letter, message), from ἐπῐστέλλω or epistéllō (to inform by, or to send, a letter or message), from ἐπῐ- or epi- (prefix meaning "on, upon"), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi (at, near, on) + στέλλω or stéllō (to dispatch, send), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *stel- (to locate, to place, put) + -η or -ē (suffix forming action nouns), and from Anglo-Norman epistle, and Middle French epistle, epistele, epistole (letter, one of the letters by an apostle in the New Testament, extract from such a letter read as part of the Mass) (modern French épître), from Latin epistola (see above).
Noun
epistle (plural epistles)
- A literary composition in the form of a letter or series of letters, especially one in verse.
- (Christianity)
- One of the books of the New Testament which was originally a letter issued by an apostle to an individual or a community; this sense is sometimes capitalized.
- An extract from a New Testament epistle or book other than a gospel which is read during a church service, chiefly the Eucharist.
Derived terms
- Catholic Epistle
- Pastoral Epistle
Related terms
- epistolarian
- epistolary
- epistolation
- epistolean
- epistolic
- epistolical
- epistolist
- epistolize
- epistolographer
- epistolographic
- epistolography
Credits
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