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epistle definition

epis·tle (ē pis′əl)

noun

  1. a letter, esp. a long, formal, instructive letter: now generally a facetious use
    1. any of the letters in the New Testament
    2. a selection, usually from these Epistles, read in various churches

Etymology: ME epistel < OFr epistle (& OE epistol) < L epistola, epistula < Gr epistolē, a letter, message < epistellein, to send to < epi-, to + stellein, to send, summon: see stalk

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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