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Dictionary Language resources

epistle

Syllabification: (e·pis·tle)

Pronunciation: /iˈpisəl/

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Definition of epistle

noun

formal

a letter.
a poem or other literary work in the form of a letter or series of letters.
(also Epistle) a book of the New Testament in the form of a letter from an Apostle:St. Paul’s epistle to the Romans
an extract from an Epistle (or another New Testament book not a Gospel) that is read in a church service.

Origin:

Old English, via Latin from Greek epistolē, from epistellein 'send news', from epi 'upon, in addition' + stellein 'send'. The word was reintroduced in Middle English from Old French