Meaning

A literary composition in the form of a letter or series of letters, especially one in verse..

Definitions by Sense

1. A literary composition in the form of a letter or series of letters, especially one in verse.
2. (chiefly literary or humorous) A letter, especially one which is formal or issued publicly.
3. One of the books of the New Testament which was originally a letter issued by an apostle to an individual or a community.
4. An extract from a New Testament epistle (noun sense 3.1) or book other than a gospel which is read during a church service, chiefly the Eucharist.
5. To write (something) in, or in the form of, a letter.
6. To write a letter to (someone).
7. To write (something) as an introduction or preface to a literary work; also, to provide (a literary work) with an introduction or preface.
8. To write a letter.

Example Sentences

[Y]our Grace ſhal herein perceiue a nevv faſhion of diſcourſe, by Epistles; nevv to our language, uſual to others: and (as Noueltie is neuer vvithout ſome plea of vſe) more free, more familiar.

For in this Addreſs to your Lordſhip, I deſign not a Treatiſe of Heroick Poetry, but vvrite in a looſe Epiſtolary vvay, ſomevvhat tending to that Subject, after the Example of Horace, in his Firſt Epiſtle of the Second Book to Auguſtus Cæſar, and of that to the Piſo’s, vvhich vve call his Art of Poetry.

But let our poet, while he writes epistles, though never so familiar, still remember that he writes in verse, and must for that reason have a more than ordinary care not to fall into prose and a vulgar diction, excepting where the nature and humour of the thing does necessarily require it.

In all Compoſitions of Genius, therefore, 'tis requiſite that the VVriter have ſome Plan or Object; and tho' he may be hurry'd from this Plan by the Vehemence of Thought, as in an Ode, or drop it careleſly, as in an Epiſtle or Eſſay, there muſt appear ſome Aim or Intention, in his firſt ſetting out, if not in the Compoſition of the vvhole VVork.

After that John Frauncis [i.e., Giovanni Francesco Pico della Mirandola], the neuiew of Picꝰ [Picus], had (as it appeareth in the firſt epiſtle of Picus to him) begon a chaunge in his liuyng: […]

Plato alſo, that diuine Philoſopher, hath many Godly medicines agaynſt the poyſon of vayne pleaſure, in many places, but ſpecially in his Epistles to Dioniſius the tyrant of Sicilie: […]

I vvill drop in his vvay ſome obſcure Epiſtles of loue, vvherein by the colour of his beard, the ſhape of his legge, the manner of his gate, the expreſſure of his eye, forehead, and complection, he ſhall finde himſelfe moſt feelingly perſonated.

[I]n publiſhing theſe Epiſtles at this Time, you pleaſe to ſay, That I have done like Hezekiah, vvhen he ſhevved his Treaſures to the Babylonians, that I have diſcovered my Riches to Thieves, vvho vvill bind me faſt and ſhare my Goods. To this I anſvver, that if thoſe innocent Letters (for I knovv none of them but is ſuch) fall among ſuch Thieves, they vvill have no great prize to carry avvay, it vvill be but petty larceny: […]

Word Forms

• epistles
• Epistle
• epistling
• epistled

Synonyms for epistle

Related Words

When Should You Use Epistle?

Use epistle when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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