Meanings
comparative more epistolary · superlative most epistolary
- Of or relating to letters, or the writing of letters.
- Carried on by written correspondence.
an epistolary relationship
- In the manner of written correspondence.
epistolary style
3 more examples
an epistolary novel
Bram Stoker's novel Dracula (1897) is written in epistolary style.
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
plural epistolaries
- ChristianityA Christian liturgical book containing set readings for church services from the New Testament Epistles.
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectivewritten in the form of or carried on by letters or correspondence
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἐπιστολή
- Latinepistolārius
- Englishepistolary
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.
More words from Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Hungarian levélbeli, írásbeli
- levélbeliof or relating to letters, or the writing of letters
- írásbeliof or relating to letters, or the writing of letters
- episztolárisof or relating to letters, or the writing of letters
Polish epistolarny, listowny
- epistolarnyof or relating to letters, or the writing of letters
- listownyof or relating to letters, or the writing of letters
- epistolarnyin the manner of written correspondence
Portuguese epistolar, epistolar
- epistolarof or relating to letters, or the writing of letters
- epistolarin the manner of written correspondence
Cite this entry
epistolary. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epistolary
“epistolary.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epistolary. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “epistolary,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epistolary.
Source: epistolary on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.