▪ I. epistle, n.
(ɪˈpɪs(ə)l)
Forms: 1, 5–6 epistole, (5 -toll), 4–5 epistel(l(e, 4–6 episti(l, (4 apistille), 6 epystole, epystle, 3– epistle.
[a. OF. epistle, epistole (mod.F. épitre), ad. L. epistola, a. Gr. ἐπιστολή, f. ἐπιστέλλειν, f. ἐπί on the occasion of + στέλλειν to send. The OE. epistole was directly ad. Lat. See pistle.]
1. A communication made to an absent person in writing; a letter. Chiefly (from its use in translations from L. and Gr.) applied to letters written in ancient times, esp. to those which rank as literary productions, or (after the analogy of 2) to those of a public character, or addressed to a body of persons. In application to ordinary (modern) letters now used only rhetorically or with playful or sarcastic implication.
In the A.V. the word does not occur in the O.T. (but occas. in the Apocrypha); in the N.T. it appears only in sense 2 or analogous uses, letter being employed in other cases. Until the present century it was common to speak, e.g., of Cicero's or Pliny's ‘epistles’; but letters is now the usual word in such cases.
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. iii. xi. 144 Eall heora ᵹewinn awæcnedon ærest from Alexandres epistole. c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 502 For there was some epistle hem betwene. 1382 Wyclif 1 Macc. xv. 1 The kyng Antiochus..sente epistilis..to Symont. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 111 But truly Seynte Ierom in his epistole to Eugenius expressethe. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 43 a, And he wrotte an epistoll to Alexandre. 1529 More Heresyes i. Wks. 121/1 Holye sainct Austyn in an epystle of hys whyche he wrote to the clargy and the people. 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. ii. iii. 169, I will drop in his way some obscure Epistles of loue. c 1645 Howell Lett. iv. i, Epistles, or (according to the word in use) Familiar Letters, may be call'd the larum bels of Love. 1681–6 J. Scott Chr. Life (1747) III. 426 That there was..a Bishop in Philadelphia, is abundantly evident from Ignatius's Epistle to that Church. 1706 J. Logan in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem. X. 165, I was so jaded with long epistles. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. II. 129 In the epistle or manifesto which he [Julian] himself addressed to the senate and people of Athens. 1839 Lytton Richelieu ii. i, Wide flew the doors..lo, Messire de Beringhen, and this epistle! 1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirl. III. 143 It was no uncommon thing for the epistles to lie many days in the post-office window. |
b. A literary work, usually in poetry, composed in the form of a letter.
| c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 305 Prol. (Camb. MS. 1430) What seyth also the epistelle of Ouyde. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. 81 Ambrose..that wrot many notabel bokes and episteles. 1614 Bp. Hall Epist. Ded., Further..your Grace shall heerein perceive a new fashion of discourse, by Epistles; new to our language. 1697 Dryden æneid Ded. (R.), Horace, in his first epistle of the second book. 1714 Spect. No. 618 ¶3 Let our Poet, while he writes Epistles, though never so familiar, still remember that he writes in Verse. 1751 Chambers Cycl. s.v., The term epistle is now scarce, but for letters wrote in verse, and letters dedicatory. |
† c. A preface or letter of dedication addressed to a patron, or to the reader, at the beginning of a literary work. Obs. See dedicatory.
| 1605 Verstegan Dec. Intell. (1628) Pref. Ep., To beginne his Epistle (to a huge Volume) with Constantine the great, etc. 1637 Decree Star Chamb. §2 in Milton Areop. (Arb.) 10 All and euery the Titles, Epistles, Prefaces, Proems, Preambles, etc. 1653 Walton Angler Ep. Ded. 6, I shall not adventure to make this Epistle longer. |
2. spec. A letter from an apostle, forming part of the canon of Scripture.
| [a 1200 Vices & Virtues 31 Sanctus Paulus us takð on his pisteles.] a 1225 Ancr. R. 8 In sein Iames canoniel epistle. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 277 Poul telliþ in þis epistle of fredom of Cristene men. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 149 To whom Paule did wryte an epistole. 1578 Gude & Godlie Ball. (1868) 63 The Lordis Supper, as it is writtin in the first Epistil to the Cor. xj. Chap. 1695 Locke Reas. Chr. (R.), I answer, that the epistles were written upon several occasions. 1704 Nelson Festiv. & Fasts vii. (1739) 95 The Epistle..is..an excellent Antidote against the Poison of Gnostick Principles. 1882 Farrar Early Chr. II. 483 Eusebius and Origen seem to have regarded the Epistles [John I, II, III] as genuine. |
3. Eccl. the Epistle: The extract from one of the apostolical Epistles read as part of the Communion Service.
| c 1440 Gesta Rom. liv. 373 (Add. MS.) The bere seid the masse: The asse redde the apistille; The Oxe redde the gospell. 1548–9 (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer 122 b, The priest, or he that is appointed, shall reade the Epistle. 1578 Gude & Godlie Ball. (1868) 63 Ane Ballat of the Epistill on Christinmes Euin. 1662 Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion, Immediately after the Collect the Priest shall read the Epistle. 1721 Bailey, Epistler, he who reads the Epistles in a Cathedral Church. 1877 J. D. Chambers Div. Worship 326 The other Clergy may sit during the Epistle. |
4. attrib. and Comb., as epistle-book; also epistle-side (of the altar), the south side, from which the epistle is read.
| 1555 Eden Dec. W. Ind. iii. ix. (Arb.) 178 My epistell booke whiche I sente vnto yowre holynes. 1885 Pall Mall G. 2 Apr. 10/2 The Epistle side of the altar. |
▪ II. epistle, v.
(ɪˈpɪs(ə)l)
[f. prec. n.]
† 1. trans. To write as a preface or introduction. Obs. rare—1.
| 1671 Milton Samson Pref., In behalf of this tragedy..thus much beforehand may be epistled. |
2. † a. To write a letter to (a person). b. To write (something) in a letter. rare—1.
| 1741 Mrs. Foley in Mrs. Delany's Corr. (1861) II. 164 If your fair sister don't epistle me this post. 1852 Meanderings of Mem. I. 35 'Tis noted down—Epistled to the Duke. |