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epistolary. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
epistolary, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
epistolary in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
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
Adjective
epistolary (comparative more epistolary, superlative 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
an epistolary novel
Bram Stoker's novel Dracula (1897) is written in epistolary style.
1837, L E L, “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.
Derived terms
Translations
of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters
carried on by written correspondence
in the manner of written correspondence
Translations to be checked
See also
Noun
epistolary (plural epistolaries)
- (Christianity) A Christian liturgical book containing set readings for church services from the New Testament Epistles.
References
- ^ “epistolary, adj. and n.”, in OED Online , Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
- ^ “pistelarie, n.”, in OED Online , Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
- ^ “epistolārie, -ere, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.