epistolary en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˌɛpəˈstɑləɹi/ (US)
- (UK) audio
- /ɛ-/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (UK) audio
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ɪˈpɪstəˌlɛɹi/ (US)
- /ə-/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ɪˈpɪst(ə)ˌl(ə)ɹi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (UK) audio
- (UK) audio
- /ɛpɪˈstɒləɹi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
1627, from Latin epistolārius, from epistola (“letter”) (English epistle) + -ārius, from Ancient Greek ἐπιστολή (epistolḗ) from ἐπιστέλλω (epistéllō, “to send a message”) from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + στέλλω (stéllō, “to prepare, send”). For the noun, compare Middle English pistelarie and Old English pistelari, both from Medieval Latin epistolārium, possibly via an unattested *epistelari, *epistolarie.
Meanings
- Of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters.
-
Carried on by written correspondence.
an epistolary relationship
-
In the manner of written correspondence.
But Sir Jasper has a great talent for epistolary correspondence—to be sure he has nothing else to do; but my time is of great importance.
1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “A Request Refused”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 297:an epistolary novel
epistolary style
Bram Stoker's novel Dracula (1897) is written in epistolary style.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more epistolary | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most epistolary | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Relateds
epistology · dialogue · dialectic · epistle
Translations (8)
pl epistolarny (of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters) · hu levélbeli (of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters) · pl listowny (of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters) · hu írásbeli (of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters) · hu episztoláris (of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters) · pl epistolarny (in the manner of written correspondence) · pt epistolar (in the manner of written correspondence) · pt epistolar (of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters)