# epistolary

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɪˈpɪst(ə)ˌl(ə)ɹi/ · frequency rank #66,640

## Definitions
1. Of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters.
2. Carried on by written correspondence.
3. In the manner of written correspondence.

## Etymology
1627, from Latin epistolārius, 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.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/epistolary