epistle

What is another word for epistle? Here is its meaning, with related words and examples.

Noun — A formal or literary letter, especially a long or public one, sometimes written in verse.

We haven't recorded synonyms for epistle yet. You can still read its full definition, where it comes from, or words that rhyme with it.

How to use epistle

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

a long epistle write an epistle the epistle reading an epistle to

Outside church use, it is a literary or slightly humorous way to describe an unusually long or formal letter.

Etymology

Epistle reached English through Middle English forms such as epistel and pistel, themselves drawn from Old English and Anglo-Norman versions of the Latin epistola. Latin took the word from Ancient Greek epistolē, meaning a letter or message, built from a verb meaning to send.

Full origin of epistle →

Frequently asked questions

What does epistle mean?

An epistle is a formal or literary letter, or, in a religious context, one of the New Testament letters read in church.

Why is a letter called an epistle?

The word comes ultimately from Greek epistolē, meaning a letter or message sent to someone.

Is epistle just an old word for letter?

It usually implies something more formal, public or literary than an ordinary letter.

Nearby words

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