epistolary

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

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

   An endless sequence of epistolary love affairs.

2. 2
   adj

   Carried on by written correspondence.

   An epistolary relationship.

3. 3
   adj

   In the manner of written correspondence.

   Epistolary style.

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.

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