See Also: Epistle(medicine)
epistle(1)(dictionary)
epistle(2)(dictionary)
epistle(dictionary)

epistle(1) (iou)



epistle noun. OE.

A letter, esp. one of a literary, formal, or public nature. Now freq. joc. or rhet. OE.
b. A literary work in the form of a letter, usu. in verse. LME.
c. A preface or letter of dedication at the beginning of a literary work. obsolete exc. in dedicatory epistle, epistle dedicatory. E17.
Christian Church.
a. Any of various books in the New Testament which originated as apostolic letters to Christian communities and individuals. ME.
CATHOLIC Epistles. pastoral epistles: see PASTORAL adjective.
b. (Epistle.) The New Testament reading that precedes the Gospel in the Eucharist. LME.
Comb.: Epistle side Christian Church the south end of an altar, from which the Epistle is traditionally read.