epistle

epistle
epistle O.E. epistol, from O.Fr. epistle, epistre (Mod.Fr. épitre), from L. epistola "letter," from Gk. epistole "message, letter, command, commission," whether verbal or in writing, from epistellein "send to," from epi "to" (see EPI- (Cf. epi-)) + stellein in its secondary sense of "to dispatch, send" from PIE *stel-yo-, suffixed form of root *stel- "to put, stand," with derivatives referring to a standing object or place (see STALL (Cf. stall) (n.1)). Also acquired in O.E. directly from Latin as pistol. Specific sense of "letter from an apostle forming part of canonical scripture" is c.1200.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Epistle — E*pis tle, n. [OE. epistle, epistel, AS. epistol, pistol, L. epistola, fr. Gr. ? anything sent by a messenger, message, letter, fr. ? to send to, tell by letter or message; epi upon, to + ? to dispatch, send; cf. OF. epistle, epistre, F. [… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • epistle — refers primarily to the letters of the New Testament, e.g. the Epistle of St Paul the Apostle to the Romans. It is sometimes used ironically or whimsically to mean a letter of any kind: • When mischievous gossip columnists were prompted to… …   Modern English usage

  • epistle — ► NOUN 1) formal or humorous a letter. 2) (Epistle) a book of the New Testament in the form of a letter from an Apostle. ORIGIN Greek epistol , from epistellein send news …   English terms dictionary

  • epistle — [ē pis′əl] n. [ME epistel < OFr epistle (& OE epistol) < L epistola, epistula < Gr epistolē, a letter, message < epistellein, to send to < epi , to + stellein, to send, summon: see STALK1] 1. a letter, esp. a long, formal,… …   English World dictionary

  • Epistle — E*pis tle, v. t. To write; to communicate in a letter or by writing. [Obs.] Milton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • epistle — index dispatch (message) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • Epistle — [ıˈpısəl] n one of the letters in the New Testament of the Bible …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • epistle — *letter, missive, note, message, dispatch, report, memorandum …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • epistle — [n] letter billet doux*, cannonball*, card, communication, dispatch, FYI*, get well, invite, kite*, line*, love letter, memo, message, missive, note, poison pen*, postcard, scratch*, tab*, thank you; concept 271 …   New thesaurus

  • Epistle — An epistle (pronounced [ɪˈpɪsəl] ) (Greek επιστολη, epistolē, letter ) is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of persons, usually a letter and a very formal, often didactic and elegant one. The letters in the New Testament from… …   Wikipedia

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