epistolary

English

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epistolary

/ɪˈpɪst(ə)ˌl(ə)ɹi/ UK
/ɛ-/ UK
/ə-/ UK
/ɛpɪˈstɒləɹi/ UK
/ɪˈpɪstəˌlɛɹi/ US
/ˌɛpəˈstɑləɹi/ US

Where it comes from

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.

adjective more epistolary · most epistolary

Of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters.
Carried on by written correspondence. an epistolary relationship
In the manner of written correspondence. epistolary style

noun epistolaries

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

Translations

Every language

adj of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters

Português	epistolar

adj in the manner of written correspondence

Português	epistolar

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Cite this

MLA

"epistolary." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/epistolary. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

epistolary. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/epistolary

Chicago

"epistolary." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/epistolary.

BibTeX

@misc{epistolary_2026,
  title = {epistolary},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/epistolary},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}