Forms: 1, 5–6 epistole, (5 -toll), 4–5 epistel(l(e, 4–6 episti(l, (4 apistille), 6 epystole, epystle, 3– epistle. [a. OF. epistle, epistole (mod.F. épitre), ad. L. epistola, a. Gr. ἐπιστολή, f. ἐπιστέλλειν, f. ἐπί on the occasion of + στέλλειν to send. The OE. epistole was directly ad. Lat. See PISTLE.]
1. A communication made to an absent person in writing; a letter. Chiefly (from its use in translations from L. and Gr.) applied to letters written in ancient times, esp. to those that rank as literary productions, or (after the analogy of 2) to those of a public character, or addressed to a body of persons. In application to ordinary (modern) letters now used only rhetorically or with playful or sarcastic implication.
In the A.V. the word does not occur in the O. T. (but occas. in the Apocrypha); in the N. T. it appears only in sense 2 or analogous uses, letter being employed in other cases. Until the present century it was common to speak, e.g., of Cicero’s, or Pliny’s ‘epistles’; but letters is now the usual word in such cases.
c. 893. K. Ælfred, Oros., III. xi. 144. Eall heora ʓewinn awæcnedon ærest from Alexandres epistole.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 502. For there was some epistle hem betwene.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Macc. xv. 1. The kyng Antiochus … sente epistilis … to Symont.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 111. But truly Seynte Ierom in his epistole to Eugenius expressethe.
1477. Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 43 a. And he wrotte an epistoll to Alexandre.
1529. More, Heresyes, I. Wks. 121/1. Holye sainct Austyn in an epystle of hys whyche he wrote to the clargy and the people.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. iii. 169. I will drop in his way some obscure Epistles of loue.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett., IV. i. Epistles, or (according to the word in use) Familiar Letters, may be call’d the larum bels of Love.
1681–6. J. Scott, Chr. Life (1747), III. 426. That there was … a Bishop in Philadelphia, is abundantly evident from Ignatius’s Epistle to that Church.
1706. J. Logan, in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., X. 165. I was so jaded with long epistles.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., II. 129. In the epistle or manifesto which he [Julian] himself addressed to the senate and people of Athens.
1839. Lytton, Richelieu, II. i. Wide flew the doors … lo, Messire de Beringhen, and this epistle!
1870. E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., III. 143. It was no uncommon thing for the epistles to lie many days in the post-office window.
b. A literary work, usually in poetry, composed in the form of a letter.
c. 1385. Chaucer, L. G. W., 305. Prol. (Camb. MS. c. 1430). What seyth also the epistelle of Ouyde.
1460. Capgrave, Chron., 81. Ambrose … that wrot many notabel bokes and episteles.
1614. Bp. Hall, Epist., Ded. *379. Further … your Grace shall heerein perceiue a new fashion of discourse, by Epistles; new to our language.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, Ded. (R.). Horace, in his First Epistle of the Second Book to Augustus Cæsar.
1714. Spect., No. 618, ¶ 3. Let our Poet, while he writes Epistles, though never so familiar, still remember that he writes in Verse.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The term epistle is now scarce, but for letters wrote in verse, and letters dedicatory.
† c. A preface or letter of dedication addressed to a patron, or to the reader, at the beginning of a literary work. Obs. See DEDICATORY.
1605. Verstegan, Dec. Intell. (1628), Pref. Ep. To beginne his Epistle (to a huge volume) with Constantine the great [etc.].
1637. Decree Star Chamb., § 2, in Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 10. All and euery the Titles, Epistles, Prefaces, Proems, Preambles [etc.].
1653. Walton, Angler, Ep. Ded. A 4 b. I shal not adventure to make this Epistle longer.
2. spec. A letter from an apostle, forming part of the canon of Scripture.
[c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 31. Sanctus Paulus us takð on his pisteles.]
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 8. In sein Iames canoniel epistle.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 277. Poul telliþ in þis epistle of fredom of Cristene men.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 149. To whom Paule did wryte an epistole.
1578. Gude & Godlie Ball. (1868), 63. The Lordis Supper, as it is writtin in the first Epistil to the Cor. xj. Chap.
1695. Locke, Reas. Chr., 291 (R.). I Answer, that the Epistles were written upon several occasions.
1704. Nelson, Fest. & Fasts, vii. (1739), 95. The Epistle … is … an excellent Antidote against the Poison of Gnostick Principles.
1882. Farrar, Early Chr., II. 483. Eusebius and Origen seem to have regarded the Epistles [John I, II, III] as genuine.
3. Eccl. The Epistle: The extract from one of the apostolical Epistles read as part of the Communion Service.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., liv. 373 (Add. MS.). The bere seid the masse: The asse redde the apistille; The Oxe redde the gospell.
1548–9. (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, 122 b. The priest, or he that is appointed, shall reade the Epistle.
1578. Gude & Godlie Ball. (1868), 63. Ane Ballat of the Epistill on Christinmes Euin.
1662. Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion. Immediately after the Collect the Priest shall read the Epistle.
1721. Bailey, Epistler, he who reads the Epistles in a Cathedral Church.
1877. J. D. Chambers, Div. Worship, 326. The other Clergy may sit during the Epistle.
4. attrib. and Comb., as epistle-book; also epistle-side (of the altar), the south side, from which the epistle is read.
1555. Eden, Decades W. Ind., III. IX. (Arb.), 178. My epistell booke whiche I sente vnto … yowre holynes.
1885. Pall Mall Gaz., 2 April, 10/2. The Epistle side of the altar.
