Main Entry: epis·tle

Pronunciation: \i-ˈpi-səl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, letter, Epistle, from Anglo-French, from Latin epistula, epistola letter, from Greek epistolē message, letter, from epistellein to send to, from epi- + stellein to send

Date: 13th century

1 capitalized a : one of the letters adopted as books of the New Testament b : a liturgical lection usually from one of the New Testament Epistles
2 a : letter; especially : a formal or elegant letter b : a composition in the form of a letter

— epis·tler \-ˈpi-sə-lər\ noun