epistolary

1620s, from Latin epistolārius,^[1] from epistola (“letter”) (English epistle) + -ārius, from Ancient Greek ἐπιστολή (epistolḗ) from ἐπιστέλλω (epistéllō, “I send a message”) from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + στέλλω (stéllō, “I prepare, send”). For the noun, compare Middle English pistelarie and Old English pistelari, both from Medieval Latin epistolārium, possibly via an unattested *epistelari, *epistolarie.^[2][3]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪˈpɪst(ə)ˌl(ə)ɹi/, /ɛ-/, /ə-/, /ɛpɪˈstɒləɹi/

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪˈpɪstəˌlɛɹi/, /ˌɛpəˈstɑləɹi/
• Hyphenation: e‧pis‧to‧la‧ry

epistolary (comparative more epistolary, superlative most epistolary)

1. Of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters.
2. Carried on by written correspondence.

   an epistolary relationship

3. In the manner of written correspondence.

   epistolary style

   an epistolary novel

   Bram Stoker's novel Dracula (1897) is written in epistolary style.

   • 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:

     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.

epistolary (plural epistolaries)

1. (Christianity) A Christian liturgical book containing set readings for church services from the New Testament Epistles.