epistle

Syllables: epis·tle/ɪˈpɪs.əl/

epistle noun: a literary composition in the form of a letter or series of letters, especially one in verse.

Noun (1)

epistle (plural epistles)

A literary composition in the form of a letter or series of letters, especially one in verse.
- [Y]our Grace ſhal herein perceiue a nevv faſhion of diſcourſe, by Epistles; nevv to our language, uſual to others: and (as Noueltie is neuer vvithout ſome plea of vſe) more free, more familiar.1608, Joseph Hall, “To the High and Mightie Prince, Henrie, Prince of Great Britaine, Sonne and Heyre Apparant to Our Soueraigne Lord, Iames, King of Great Brit. &c. All Glorie in Either World”, in...
- For in this Addreſs to your Lordſhip, I deſign not a Treatiſe of Heroick Poetry, but vvrite in a looſe Epiſtolary vvay, ſomevvhat tending to that Subject, after the Example of Horace, in his Firſt Epiſtle of the Second Book to Auguſtus Cæſar, and of that to the Piſo’s, vvhich vve call his Art of...1697, John Dryden, “To the Most Honourable John, Lord Marquess of Normanby, […]”, in Virgil, translated by John Dryden, The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […]...
(humorous, literary) A letter, especially one which is formal or issued publicly.
- After that John Frauncis [i.e., Giovanni Francesco Pico della Mirandola], the neuiew of Picꝰ [Picus], had (as it appeareth in the firſt epiſtle of Picus to him) begon a chaunge in his liuyng: […]a. 1536 (date written), Thomas More, “The Life of John Picus Erle of Myrandula, […]. Chapter IIII.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […]...
- Plato alſo, that diuine Philoſopher, hath many Godly medicines agaynſt the poyſon of vayne pleaſure, in many places, but ſpecially in his Epistles to Dioniſius the tyrant of Sicilie: […]a. 1569 (date written), Roger Ascham, “The First Booke for the Youth [Teachyng the Brynging vp of Youth]”, in Margaret Ascham, editor, The Scholemaster: Or Plaine and Perfite Way of Teaching...
1. (historical, humorous, literary, specifically) Chiefly with a qualifying word, as in epistle dedicatory: a letter of dedication addressed to a patron or reader published as a preface to a literary work.
  - [I]n the Epiſtle Dedicatorie thereof to a great man of this land, whom he calls his verie right honourable good Lord, he recounteth his large bounties beſtowed upon him, and talkes of the ſecret favours which hee did him in his ſtudie or cloſet at court.1596, Tho[mas] Nashe, “To the Most Orthodoxall and Reverent Corrector of Staring Haires, […], Don Richardo Barbarossa de Cæsario, […]”, in Haue with You to Saffron-Walden. Or, Gabriell Harveys Hunt...
  - [L]eſt a longer Epiſtle may diminiſh your pleaſure, I ſhal not adventure to make this Epiſtle longer then to add this follovving truth, That I am really, Sir, Your moſt affectionate Friend, and moſt humble Servant, Iz[aak] Wa[lton].1653, Iz[aak] Wa[lton], “To the Right Worshipful John Offley of Madely Manor in the County of Stafford, Esq; My Most Honoured Friend”, in The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation....
One of the books of the New Testament which was originally a letter issued by an apostle to an individual or a community.
- The Evangiles and Acts, teach us vvhat to beleeve, but the Epiſtles of the Apoſtles vvhat to do.a. 1632 (date written), John Donne, “To Sr. G. M.”, in John Donne [the Younger], editor, Letters to Severall Persons of Honour: […], London: […] J. Fletcher for Richard Marriot, […], published 1651...
- [T]he Doctrine of Faith, and Myſtery of Salvation, vvas more fully explained, in the Epiſtles vvrit by the Apoſtles.1695, [John Locke], The Reasonableness of Christianity, as Delivered in the Scriptures, London: […] Awnsham and John Churchil, […], →OCLC, page 190
An extract from a New Testament epistle (noun sense 3.1) or book other than a gospel which is read during a church service, chiefly the Eucharist.
- The Collectes ended, the prieſt, or he that is appointed, ſhall reade the Epiſtle, in a place aſſigned for the purpoſe, ſaying. The Epiſtle of ſainct Paule written in the [blank] Chapiter of [blank] to the.1549 March 7, Thomas Cranmer [et al.], compilers, “The Supper of the Lorde, and the Holy Communion, Commonly Called the Masse”, in The Booke of the Common Prayer and Administration of the...
- EPISTLER, He vvho reads the Epiſtles in a Cathedral Church, &c.1721, N[athan] Bailey, “EPISTLER”, in An Universal Etymological English Dictionary: […], London: […] E. Bell, J. Darby, […], →OCLC, column 2

Verb

epistle (third-person singular simple present epistles, present participle epistling, simple past and past participle epistled)

(humorous, literary, transitive) To write (something) in, or in the form of, a letter.
- His braynes, his time, all hys maintenance and exhibition upon it he hath conſumed, and never intermitted, till ſuch time as he beganne to epiſtle it againſt mee, ſince which I have kept him a work indifferently.1596, Tho[mas] Nashe, “Dialogus”, in Haue with You to Saffron-Walden. Or, Gabriell Harveys Hunt is Up. […], London: […] John Danter, →OCLC; republished as J[ohn] P[ayne] C[ollier], editor, Have with...
(archaic, humorous, literary, transitive) To write a letter to (someone).
(rare, transitive) To write (something) as an introduction or preface to a literary work; also, to provide (a literary work) with an introduction or preface.
- And though antient Tragedy uſe no Prologue, yet uſing ſometimes, in caſe of ſelf defence, or explanation, that vvhich Martial calls an Epiſtle; in behalf of this Tragedy coming forth after the antient manner, much different from vvhat among us paſſes for beſt, thus much before-hand may be Epiſtl'd...1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes, […]. Of that Sort of Dramatic Poem which is Call’d Tragedy.”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn]...
(humorous, intransitive, literary) To write a letter.
- Devinitie (the heaven of all artes) for a while drew his thoughts unto it; but ſhortly after the world, the fleſh, and the divell with-drewe him from that, and needes he would be of a more gentleman-like luſtie cut: whereupon hee fell to morrall epiſtling and poetrie.1596, Tho[mas] Nashe, “Dialogus”, in Haue with You to Saffron-Walden. Or, Gabriell Harveys Hunt is Up. […], London: […] John Danter, →OCLC; republished as J[ohn] P[ayne] C[ollier], editor, Have with...
(humorous, intransitive, literary) To communicate with someone through a letter.

Noun (2) capitalized: Epistle

Epistle (plural Epistles)

One of the books of the New Testament which was originally a letter issued by an apostle to an individual or a community.
An extract from a New Testament epistle (sense 1.1) or book other than a gospel which is read during a church service, chiefly the Eucharist.

epistle meaning in Hindi, Tamil, Urdu and Bengali

epistle in Hindi

one of the books of the New Testament which was originally a letter issued by an apostle: पत्री patrī

epistle in Tamil

மடல், கடிதம், திருமுகம், நிருபம், பத்திரம்

epistle in Bengali

পত্র, চিঠি, দীর্ঘ চিঠি

More languagesFewer languages

epistle in Malayalam: നീട്ട്, തീടൂരം, എഴുത്ത്
epistle in Kannada: ಓಲೆ
epistle in Odia: ଲେଖ lekha
epistle in Arabic: رِسَالَة risāla, ألوكة
epistle in Malay: warkah

Examples of epistle in a sentence

The moſt authentic account of the education and adventures of Julian, is contained in the epiſtle or manifeſto vvhich he himſelf addreſſed to the ſenate and people of Athens.1781, Edward Gibbon, “Constantius Sole Emperor.— […]”, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume II, London: […]...
"Lights!" said Evelyn, carelessly—for, as our readers will have already divined, he was the melancholy soliloquist—"I may as well read the Cardinal's epistle at once;—but I am no tool for his purpose.1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXVIII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to...
Wide flew the doors, and lo, / Messire de Beringhen, and this epistle!1839, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], Richelieu; or, The Conspiracy: […], London: Saunders and Otley, […], →OCLC, Act II, scene i, page 26, line 24:
Even last century scholars had begun to search for the cities in Asia Minor whose names have become so familiar to the Christian world through the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles of St.1956 November, Werner Keller, “In the Steps of St. Paul”, in William Neil, transl., The Bible as History: Archaeology Confirms the Book of...

Synonyms of epistle

pistle

Forms of epistle

Noun
plural	epistles
alternative form	Epistle
plural	Epistles
Verb
third-person singular present	epistles
present participle	epistling
past participle	epistled
past	epistled

Plural of epistle: epistles

Origin of epistle

PIE word *h₁epi The noun is derived from Middle English epistel, epistole, pistel (“letter; literary work in letter form; written legend or story; spoken communication; (Christianity) one of the letters by an apostle in the New Testament; extract from such a letter read as part of the Mass”) [and other forms], and then partly: * from Old English epistol, epistola, pistol (“letter, epistle”), from Latin epistola (“letter, epistle; literary work in letter form”) (whence Late Latin epistola (“one of the letters by an apostle in the New Testament”)), from Ancient Greek ἐπῐστολή (epĭstolḗ, “letter; message”), from ἐπῐστέλλω (epĭstéllō, “to inform by, or to send, a letter or message”) (from ἐπῐ- (epĭ-, prefix meaning ‘on, upon’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi (“at; near; on”)) + στέλλω (stéllō, “to dispatch, send”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *stel- (“to locate; to place, put”))) + -η (-ē, suffix forming action nouns); and * from Anglo-Norman epistle, and Middle French epistle, epistele, epistole (“letter; (Christianity) one of the letters by an apostle in the New Testament; extract from such a letter read as part of the Mass”) (modern French épître), from Latin...

Words formed from epistle

Phrases with epistle

Words that rhyme with epistle

3 more rhymesFewer rhymes

Questions about epistle

What does epistle mean?: Epistle means a literary composition in the form of a letter or series of letters, especially one in verse.
What is epistle in Hindi?: Epistle in Hindi is पत्री (patrī). See Epistle meaning in Hindi.
How do you use epistle in a sentence?: The moſt authentic account of the education and adventures of Julian, is contained in the epiſtle or manifeſto vvhich he himſelf addreſſed to the ſenate and people of Athens.
What part of speech is epistle?: Epistle can be a noun or a verb.
How do you pronounce epistle?: Epistle is pronounced /ɪˈpɪs.əl/.
What is the plural of epistle?: The plural of epistle is epistles.

Words near epistle in the dictionary

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: En-us-epistle.ogg.

Cite this entry: “epistle.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/epistle. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.