missive (2009-04-18)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: ['mis-iv]

Definition: A letter, a written message sent to someone.

Usage: This word is closely associated with romance: "When Priscilla received Roderick's tender missive, she knew she had let their relationship travel too far." Of course, we use the term "romance" in the broadest sense of the word, "The Prince was concerned with rumors of a mysterious missive circulating in the castle, purportedly describing his nocturnal ramblings."

Suggested Usage: Today's word is a poetic synonym of "letter," a written message. It differs from "epistle" in the religious connotation of that word. Use today's word to emphasize the sensitivity of a letter, tenderness expressed in it, or to suggest mystery, intrigue, or romance.

Etymology: Today's word is an adjective left over from the phrase "letter missive," meaning "letter sent." It comes from the Latin phrase litterae missivae, the feminine plural of "missivus" from the verb mittere "to send." While little is known of the origin of this root, mit-/mis-, it does appear in many words borrowed into English, such as "submit," "emit," "remit," "manumit," and "admit," all of which have nouns on -mission. Indeed, "mission" is another descendant of this root, not to mention "missile."