epistolary

Meanings

1. Of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters.
2. Carried on by written correspondence.
3. In the manner of written correspondence.

1. A Christian liturgical book containing set readings for church services from the New Testament Epistles.

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.