epistolary

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪˈpɪstəˌlɛɹi/ UK /ɪˈpɪst(ə)ˌl(ə)ɹi/ See IPA manual

Freq #176462

Meanings

1

adj
written in the form of or carried on by letters or correspondence

An endless sequence of epistolary love affairs.
2

adj
Carried on by written correspondence.

An epistolary relationship.
3

adj
In the manner of written correspondence.

Epistolary style.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · written in the form of or... epistolatory

Word family

Derived forms epistolarilyunepistolary

Related forms dialectic dialogue epistleepistology

Etymology

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.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# epistolary

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪˈpɪstəˌlɛɹi/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪˈpɪst(ə)ˌl(ə)ɹi/
**Frequency rank:** 176462

## Meanings
1. written in the form of or carried on by letters or correspondence
2. Carried on by written correspondence.
3. In the manner of written correspondence.

## Examples
- An endless sequence of epistolary love affairs.
- An epistolary relationship.
- Epistolary style.

## Synonyms
- epistolatory

## Derived Forms
- epistolarily
- unepistolary

## Related Forms
- dialectic
- dialogue
- epistle
- epistology

## Etymology
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.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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