epistolary

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English

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Etymology

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1620s, from Latin epistolārius,[1] from epistola (letter) (English epistle) + -ārius, from Ancient Greek ἐπιστολή (epistolḗ) from ἐπιστέλλω (epistéllō, I send a message) from ἐπί (epí, upon) + στέλλω (stéllō, I prepare, send). For the noun, compare Middle English pistelarie and Old English pistelari, both from Medieval Latin epistolārium, possibly via an unattested *epistelari, *epistolarie.[2][3]

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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epistolary (comparative more epistolary, superlative most epistolary)

  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
    • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “A Request Refused”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. [], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, [], →OCLC, page 297:
      But Sir Jasper has a great talent for epistolary correspondence—to be sure he has nothing else to do; but my time is of great importance.
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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

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Noun

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epistolary (plural epistolaries)

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

References

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  1. ^ epistolary, adj. and n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
  2. ^ pistelarie, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
  3. ^ epistolārie, -ere, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.