missiveadj.n.

Brit.

/ˈmɪsɪv/, U.S.

/ˈmɪsɪv/

Forms: late Middle English myssif, late Middle English myssyfe, late Middle English myssyvve, late Middle English mysyve, late Middle English 1600s– missive, late Middle English–1500s myssyue, late Middle English–1500s myssyve, late Middle English–1600s missiue, 1500s missyue, 1500s missyve, 1600s misiue; Scottish pre-1700 meseiv, pre-1700 meseive, pre-1700 mesive, pre-1700 messeiv, pre-1700 messeive, pre-1700 messeve, pre-1700 messiue, pre-1700 messiwe, pre-1700 messyve, pre-1700 misive, pre-1700 misseif, pre-1700 misseive, pre-1700 misseve, pre-1700 missiue, pre-1700 missiwe, pre-1700 missue (perhaps transmission error), pre-1700 missyue, pre-1700 missyve, pre-1700 missywe, pre-1700 myssiue, pre-1700 myssive, pre-1700 myssyf, pre-1700 myssyve, pre-1700 1700s messive, pre-1700 1700s– missive.

Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French missive; Latin missivus.

Etymology: < Middle French missive (1454 as adjective in lettre missive ; 1465 as noun in sense B. 2) and its etymon post-classical Latin missivus (in litterae missivae , plural (1251; frequent in British sources from the mid 14th to mid 16th centuries); compare missiva , use as noun of feminine singular, in an early 16th–cent. glossary) < classical Latin miss- , past participial stem of mittere to send (see mission n.) + -īvus -ive suffix.Compare Occitan missivo , adjective (in lettras missivas (plural), probably 15th cent.), Catalan missivo , adjective (in lletres missives (plural), 1571), Spanish misivo , adjective (in e.g. letra misiva , carta misiva , mid 16th cent.), misiva , noun (1630), Portuguese missivo , adjective (16th. cent in e.g. cartas missivas (plural) and arma missiva (compare sense A. 5)), missiva , noun (16th cent.), Italian missiva , noun (1468; earlier in form messiva (a1449)); also Middle Dutch missijf (in missijfbrief ; Dutch missive ), Middle High German missive (German (rare) Missiv ). Compare also Middle French lettres missibles , plural (see missible adj.).

A. adj.

I. Senses relating to correspondence.

1. missive letter n. (also letter missive; plural letters missive, †letters missives) .

a. A letter from a superior authority, esp. the monarch, to a particular person or body of persons, conveying a command, recommendation, or permission. Now chiefly (Anglican Church): a letter from the monarch to a dean and chapter nominating the person whom they are to elect bishop. See congé d'élire at congee n.² 6.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > legal document > types of legal or official document > [noun] > letter or letters patent

lettersc1300

brevet1362

letters patenta1387

patentc1387

missive letter1444

missive bill1522

charter-patent1589

letters overt1717

missive letter1798

society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun] > official letter

missive letter1444

missive1590

state letter1603

state1880

official1884

society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun] > ecclesiastical letter

communicatory letters1611

missive letterc1650

pastoral1758

1444 in H. Nicolas Proc. & Ordinances Privy Council (1837) VI. 318 (MED) Item, that the warrantes to þe signet..be it lettres missives or oþer, be truely and redily kept.

1466 in J. T. Gilbert Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) I. 323 (MED) The saide Maister John..to make all myssyvve lettres in lattyne to Irishe enemyes..that undrestandith not Englys.

1477 MS Rawl. B. 332 f. 42 (margin) A commission maad in a lettre myssif forto visite the priory of Hertford by my lord Abbot in proper persone.

1477 King Edward IV Let. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. I. 17 (MED) We have other tymes addressed our Lettres missiues vnto Robert Conestable for restitucion of the goods of Thomas Yare.

1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII c. 20 §3 A lycence vnder the greate seale..with a lettre myssyve, conteynyng the name of the persone which they shall electe and chose; By vertue of which licence the seid Deane and Chapitour..shall..electe..the seid person named in the seid letters myssyves.

1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 308 The letters missiue which..Edwarde the .vi. sent.

1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 13 Alexander the Great had by his letters missive given commandement that the Greekes should provide Robes of purple against his returne.

c1650 J. Row & J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1842) 63 His Maiestie sent aught missive letters, dated..To..(such a man) Minister of (such a place).

1679 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Reformation: 1st Pt. iii. 236 The King granted a Conge d'elire to the Prior and Convent, with a Missive Letter, declaring the name of the person whom they should choose.

1700 in Rothesay Town Council Rec. (1935) II. 535 A messive letter sent to the Magistrates from their Commissioner, craveing several soumes dew to him.

1713 E. Ward Hist. Grand Rebellion I. 29 For that the Letter missive to command His Absence, was without the Royal Hand.

1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. III. 445 If a peer is a defendant, the lord chancellor sends a letter missive to him to request his appearance.

1841 H. Hallam View Europe Middle Ages (ed. 8) I. iv. 397 John I had long before admitted, that what was done by cortes and general assemblies could not be undone by letters missive.

1863 H. Cox Inst. Eng. Govt. i. vi. 32 The Convention Parliament of 1688, elected by virtue of letters-missive written by the Prince of Orange.

1902 J. Gairdner Hist. Eng. Church 16th Cent. (1903) viii. 145 Priors and convents, or deans and chapters, were to elect bishops on receipt of the king's congé d'élire, which was to be accompanied with a letter-missive in favour of the king's nominee.

1980 Oxf. Compan. Law 761/1 In ecclesiastical law a letter missive is sent with the congé d'élire to the dean and chapter of a cathedral.

†b. gen. A letter or epistle sent from one person or body to another. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun]

epistleeOE

pistleOE

writOE

letter?c1225

brief1330

writingc1384

missive letter1519

scroll1534

missive?1553

scrieve1581

favour1645

chitty1698

chit1757

mail letter1799

1519 W. Horman Vulgaria viii. f. 80^v Fyne and thynne papyr, seruynge for myssyue letters.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 35 The letters missyves of suche as be secreatores in the sayd countreis.

?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Civ ^v The second boke shall be of lettres missyues, in prose and in ryme.

1570 Southesk MSS in 7th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1879) App. ii. 12 Becaus thes causes are of grit wecht..and cannot be weill treatit be missyve lettres.

1620 N. Brent tr. P. Sarpi Hist. Councel of Trent ii. 133 Some letter, missiue or responsiue.

1658 E. Phillips New World Eng. Words A letter Missive, a letter which is sent from one friend to another.

1710 J. Chamberlayne Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (ed. 23) i. iii. x. 281 Though the Number of Letters missive in England were not at all considerable in our Ancestors Days, yet it is now so prodigiously great (since the meanest People have generally learnt to write) that [etc.].

1818 H. J. Todd Johnson's Dict. Eng. Lang. at Literary Not properly used of missive letters.

†c. Scots Law. = sense B. 1. Also figurative. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1568 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 641 All missive lettres, contractis or obligationis for mariage [etc.].

1637 S. Rutherford Lett. (1664) i. cxiii. 219 I know missive letters goe between the Devil & young blood.

1656 in J. A. Clyde Hope's Major Practicks (1938) II. 89 A promisse or offer be a missive letter susteined, notwithstanding the promise wes never accepted bot refuised.

1681 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. i. x. §9 Though the buyer by a Missive Letter, wrote, that he thought he would not be able to furnish the Money.

1681 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. iv. xlii. §25 Missive-Letters are Probative, except where they relate to more solemn Writs, such as Bonds, Bills, or Accompts.

1753 in W. M. Morison Decisions Court of Session (1807) XXXV. 15177 Barron granted a subset of certain lands to Duncan, for five years. The agreement was executed by mutual missive letters betwixt them.

1773 J. Erskine Inst. Law Scotl. II. iii. ii. §24 Missive letters in re mercatoria are valid, though they be not holograph.

†d. U.S. In the Congregationalist Church: an official letter inviting a church to send delegates to a council. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > legal document > types of legal or official document > [noun] > letter or letters patent

lettersc1300

brevet1362

letters patenta1387

patentc1387

missive letter1444

missive bill1522

charter-patent1589

letters overt1717

missive letter1798

1798 M. Cutler Let. 23 Oct. in W. P. Cutler & J. P. Cutler Life, Jrnls. & Corr. M. Cutler (1888) II. 4 We jointly addressed letters missive to eleven churches, all of whom complied, and the council was formed at my house.

1861 Proc. Council Congregational Churches 3 An ex-parte Council assembled..on the 2d day of May, 1861, at 2 o'clock P.M., pursuant to the following letter missive.

1880 H. M. Dexter Congregationalism x. 527 In what manner Councils are regularly called. This has been uniformly done by a form of written request, which has received the technical name of a Letter-Missive.

†2. Scottish missive writing n. = missive letter n. at sense A. 1. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

1518 Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes XXXI. f. 12^v Ane missive wryting send fra [etc.].

1564 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 283 Heirupoun wer lettres direct and als missyve writtingis to this same effect sent to [etc.].

†3. Scottish missive bill n. = missive letter n. at sense A. 1. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > legal document > types of legal or official document > [noun] > letter or letters patent

lettersc1300

brevet1362

letters patenta1387

patentc1387

missive letter1444

missive bill1522

charter-patent1589

letters overt1717

missive letter1798

1522 Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes XXXIII. f. 28b The missiue bill producit be Maister Robert Talbroucht in the Quenis name.

1525 Queen Margaret of Scotl. Let. to King Henry VIII in M. A. E. Wood Lett. Royal & Illustrious Ladies (1846) I. 365 Yet your grace will not have consideration thereof, but takes more tent to missive bills than to me your sister.

a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 112 This was done all for sending of ane missiwe bill in Ingland.

1579–80 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1880) 1st Ser. III. 256 Missive bill of Houstoun and New Work.

1615 in J. R. N. Macphail Highland Papers (1920) III. 228 Ansueris gevin in be the burrowis..to the missiue bill send to theme from his maiesties counsall.

†II. Other senses.

4. gen. That is sent; sent on an errand. Also: sent as a message. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > authority > delegated authority > [adjective] > sent on a mission

missivea1450

emissary1685

missionary1691

missioned1796

the world > movement > transference > sending > [adjective]

sent1483

missive1628

society > communication > [adjective] > sent as a message

missive1830

a1450 Quixley's Ballades in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. (1909) 20 42 (MED) Wedloke, þat hye and gode beneison Of god & of þe holy goost myssyue, By holy chirche doon with deuocion, Enspireth þe sacrament terme of lyue.

1605 W. Camden Remaines (1984) 299 That there was no contending with him who with missive bribes can prevaile against Justice.

1610 A. Willet Hexapla in Danielem 376 Christ is none of the missiue or ministring Angels.

1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. xlvii. 138 Scaliger defines Death to be the Cessation of the Soules functions: as if it were rather a restraint, than a missiue ill.

1830 W. Phillips Mt. Sinai i. 444 The missive words then told he.

5. Of a weapon, etc.: that can be used as a missile. Of an engine of war: that discharges projectiles, etc. Also used poetically of death or defeat. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > [adjective]

missive1548

missile1610

projectile1838

society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > [adjective]

missive1780

missile1819

1548 W. Patten Exped. Scotl. sig. I ij b Most of our artillerie & missiue engins.

1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 879 Not with their missiue weapons onely..but with their drawn swords.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 519 Thir Engins and thir Balls Of missive ruin.

1695 R. Blackmore Prince Arthur v. 135 Each on his Foe missive Destruction pours.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 603 The feather'd Arrows fly, And Clouds of missive Arms obscure the Sky.

1704 J. Swift Full Acct. Battel between Bks. in Tale of Tub 234 Ink is the great missive Weapon, in all Battels of the Learned.

a1761 J. Cawthorn Poems (1771) 19 Where dreadful flew the missive deaths around.

1780 in Grose's Antiquarian Repertory (1808) III. 68 Nor among the defensive machines is the missive wheel to be despised... The missive chariot may also be effectually used.

a1798 J. Palmer Like Master like Man (1811) I. x. 141 He hurl'd the missive weapon which transpierced the heart of his adverse chief.

B. n.

I. Senses relating to correspondence.

1. Scots Law. A document in the form of a letter interchanged by the parties to a contract (now usually one to do with property). Also in missive of lease, missive of sale, missive of tack.

ΚΠ

1508 in R. K. Hannay Rentale Dunkeldense (1915) 2 Resavit..a note of ane hundreth mark aucht to my said lord..togidder witht ane missywe for the delyverance of the samyn.

1561 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 181 The charter party, and the missive, billis, and cocquet of the said schip.

1572 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1878) 1st Ser. II. 139 The writting of missives and other writtis.

1707 Arch. & Hist. Coll. Ayr. & Wigtown IV. 221 Obtained be the pursewer against hir for the samen before the Laird of Langshaws Bailzie Court, as ane sygned missive..bears.

1773 J. Erskine Inst. Law Scotl. II. iii. ii. §2 Where an agreement concerning heritage is executed in the form of mutual missives.

1801 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 381 A missive of tack,..which made no mention of assignees,..was..found.

1816 W. Scott Black Dwarf ix*, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. I. 210 There really should be some black and white on this transaction. Sae just make me a minute, or missive,..and I'se write it fair ower, and subscribe it before famous witnesses.

1832 Act 2 & 3 William IV c. 65 §9 Provided each Tenant..shall..have held such..Tenements under a Lease or Leases, Missive of Lease, or other written title.

1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scotl. (at cited word) It would appear that missives of lease, like missives of sale, require to be stamped to found an action.

1884 Rep. Condition Crofters & Cottars Highlands & Islands Scotl. IV. 2987 What is the rule of the estate? Is it to hold under leases or not?—To hold under leases. These leases are not always extended. Usually there is a missive and acceptance.

1930 Encycl. Laws Scotl. IX. 60 A tested or holograph missive of lease for a period of years though not in form a lease..has the same effect as a formal lease.

1932 Session Cases 712 The missives embodied the contract between the parties until an adjusted disposition should be delivered.

1989 Sc. World Sept. 20/2 Once the exchange of missives is completed, the legal routine begins in earnest.

2. Originally chiefly Scottish. A written message, a letter, (now) esp. a long or official one; a missive letter.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun]

epistleeOE

pistleOE

writOE

letter?c1225

brief1330

writingc1384

missive letter1519

scroll1534

missive?1553

scrieve1581

favour1645

chitty1698

chit1757

mail letter1799

?1553 (c1501) G. Douglas Palice of Honour (London) ii. v, in Shorter Poems (2003) 56 Quhow Acontus Till Cedippa anone Wrate his complaint..With othir lusty myssyuis [1579 Edinb. missiues] mony one.

1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus ii. f. 28^v His small missiue belyue he gaif him fro, Vnto thir thre.

1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. 1237/1 A missiue persuasorie sent to the Scots for the marriage of their yoong queene Marie to our yoong king Edward the sixt.

1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. i. xxxix. 124 To spend their time in wittily devising, and closely hudling-vp of a quaint missive or wittie epistle.

1647 (title) A missive of consolation: sent from Flanders, to the Catholikes of England.

1685 in Rothesay Town Council Rec. (1935) I. 406 The balȝyes of Rothesay haveing conveint in order of ane messive sent to them be Sir George Drumond provost of Edinburgh.

1791 E. Gibbon Misc. Wks. (1814) I. 342 Had I delayed..another post, your missive of the 13^th..would have arrived in time.

1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella I. i. ix. 332 The marquis..had despatched missives, requesting the support of the principal lords..of Andalusia.

1879 F. W. Farrar Life & Work St. Paul I. vi. xix. 345 The circular missive from James and the Church at Jerusalem.

1885 A. Dobson At Sign of Lyre 188 Mysterious missives, sealed with red.

1939 War Illustr. 16 Dec. p. ii/3 Possessing a very large wastepaper basket, I give short shrift to all anonymous correspondents. A glance at any missive signed with a nom-de-plume and into that w.p.b. it goes.

1969 J. Gross Rise & Fall Man of Lett. v. 135 One of his hobbies was composing letters to dead authors, chatty little missives addressed to Q. Horatius Flaccus, Maître Françoys Rabelais, Henry Fielding Esq.

1983 M. FitzHerbert Man who was Greenmantle iii. 41 Raymond's kindly comment on one particularly convoluted missive.

3. Scottish (now historical).

a. An official letter sent to each member of the Convention of Royal Burghs to announce a meeting of the Convention.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun] > official letter

missive letter1444

missive1590

state letter1603

state1880

official1884

1590 in J. D. Marwick Rec. Convent. Royal Burghs Scotl. (1870) I. 330 The said burch sending with the burch ewest on dispensit with ane missiue autentiklye subscryuit.

1607 in W. Mackay & G. S. Laing Rec. Inverness (1924) II. 55 And thair to hawe voitit on certan heidis contenit in thair messiwe.

1926 T. Pagan Conv. Royal Burghs Scotl. 66 The yearly missive sent out to summon the burghs to the annual convention.

b. More fully missive dues: the proportion of the administrative expenses of the Convention to be paid by each member, as specified in the missive.

ΚΠ

1635 in Trans. Dumfries & Galloway Nat. Hist. & Antiquarian Soc. 17 317 To the clerkis for extracting of the comptis and messives to the burrowes.

1655 in W. Cramond Ann. Banff (1891) I. 139 [Patrick Stewart chosen as commissioner for the Convention of Burghs and allowed 14 marks] for being his charges by and attour the missive deves.

1677 in J. S. Dobie Munim. Irvine (1891) II. 275 Irwin's proportiown of 2821 lib. 12 s. for messeivs is 25 lib. 7 s.

1708 in J. D. Marwick Rec. Convent. Royal Burghs Scotl. (1880) IV. 463 Approved of the agent's accounts, the disbursements in which amount to £9,386, 15s. 12d. Scots, and ordained the burghs to pay their proportions of missive dues.

1926 T. Pagan Conv. Royal Burghs Scotl. 66 The agent appears to have advanced from his own funds for the expenses of the year and then the yearly missive..specified the proportion of the convention's expenditure which each burgh owed the agent, and the commissioner was supposed to bring the sum, known as ‘missive dues’, with him when he came to the meeting.

1961 Fraserburgh Herald 16 May It was unanimously agreed to pay the sum of £34 as missive dues for the Convention of Burghs.

†II. Other senses.

4. A messenger. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger

erendrakec825

bodec888

apostlec950

sand1038

sandesman1123

sanderbodec1200

bearer?c1225

errand-bearer?c1225

messenger?c1225

erindeberea1250

sand-manc1275

beadsman1377

herald1377

messagea1382

runnera1382

sendmana1400

interpreter1490

nuntius1534

post1535

pursuivant?1536

nuncius1573

nuncio1587

carrier1594

nunciate1596

mercury1597

chiaus1599

foreranger1612

postera1614

irisa1616

missivea1616

chouse1632

angela1637

caduceator1684

purpose messenger1702

errand-bringer1720

harkara1747

commissionaire1749

carrier pigeon1785

errander1803

errand-porter1818

tchaush1819

card carrier1845

errand-goer1864

choush1866

ghulam1882

a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) i. v. 6 Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came Missiues from the King, who all-hail'd me Thane of Cawdor.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. ii. 78 With taunts Did gibe my Misiue out of audience.

a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Henry IV ccclxxvi, in Poems (1878) IV. 95 Where trusted Ianizaries stand about The Tyrant, Missives to his Crueltye.

5. An object hurled or thrown; a missile. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > [noun]

shaft1576

flinging1619

missive1644

missile1656

1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xii. 100 The stringes [of a racket]..do cause the missiues [sc. tennis balls] to speed so fast towardes their appoynted homes.

1809 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. II. vi. vii. 142 The heavens were darkened with a tempest of missives.

6. = missile n. 1. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > giving > gift or present > [noun] > gifts distributed among the people

congiary1601

missiles1606

frumentation1623

missive1649

1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar i. §7. 110 How great things God hath done for us, whether in publick Donatives, or private Missives.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	missive
释义	missiveadj.n. Brit. /ˈmɪsɪv/, U.S. /ˈmɪsɪv/ Forms: late Middle English myssif, late Middle English myssyfe, late Middle English myssyvve, late Middle English mysyve, late Middle English 1600s– missive, late Middle English–1500s myssyue, late Middle English–1500s myssyve, late Middle English–1600s missiue, 1500s missyue, 1500s missyve, 1600s misiue; Scottish pre-1700 meseiv, pre-1700 meseive, pre-1700 mesive, pre-1700 messeiv, pre-1700 messeive, pre-1700 messeve, pre-1700 messiue, pre-1700 messiwe, pre-1700 messyve, pre-1700 misive, pre-1700 misseif, pre-1700 misseive, pre-1700 misseve, pre-1700 missiue, pre-1700 missiwe, pre-1700 missue (perhaps transmission error), pre-1700 missyue, pre-1700 missyve, pre-1700 missywe, pre-1700 myssiue, pre-1700 myssive, pre-1700 myssyf, pre-1700 myssyve, pre-1700 1700s messive, pre-1700 1700s– missive. Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: French missive; Latin missivus. Etymology: < Middle French missive (1454 as adjective in lettre missive ; 1465 as noun in sense B. 2) and its etymon post-classical Latin missivus (in litterae missivae , plural (1251; frequent in British sources from the mid 14th to mid 16th centuries); compare missiva , use as noun of feminine singular, in an early 16th–cent. glossary) < classical Latin miss- , past participial stem of mittere to send (see mission n.) + -īvus -ive suffix.Compare Occitan missivo , adjective (in lettras missivas (plural), probably 15th cent.), Catalan missivo , adjective (in lletres missives (plural), 1571), Spanish misivo , adjective (in e.g. letra misiva , carta misiva , mid 16th cent.), misiva , noun (1630), Portuguese missivo , adjective (16th. cent in e.g. cartas missivas (plural) and arma missiva (compare sense A. 5)), missiva , noun (16th cent.), Italian missiva , noun (1468; earlier in form messiva (a1449)); also Middle Dutch missijf (in missijfbrief ; Dutch missive ), Middle High German missive (German (rare) Missiv ). Compare also Middle French lettres missibles , plural (see missible adj.). A. adj. I. Senses relating to correspondence. 1. missive letter n. (also letter missive; plural letters missive, †letters missives) . a. A letter from a superior authority, esp. the monarch, to a particular person or body of persons, conveying a command, recommendation, or permission. Now chiefly (Anglican Church): a letter from the monarch to a dean and chapter nominating the person whom they are to elect bishop. See congé d'élire at congee n.² 6. ΘΚΠ society > law > legal document > types of legal or official document > [noun] > letter or letters patent lettersc1300 brevet1362 letters patenta1387 patentc1387 missive letter1444 missive bill1522 charter-patent1589 letters overt1717 missive letter1798 society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun] > official letter missive letter1444 missive1590 state letter1603 state1880 official1884 society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun] > ecclesiastical letter communicatory letters1611 missive letterc1650 pastoral1758 1444 in H. Nicolas Proc. & Ordinances Privy Council (1837) VI. 318 (MED) Item, that the warrantes to þe signet..be it lettres missives or oþer, be truely and redily kept. 1466 in J. T. Gilbert Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889) I. 323 (MED) The saide Maister John..to make all myssyvve lettres in lattyne to Irishe enemyes..that undrestandith not Englys. 1477 MS Rawl. B. 332 f. 42 (margin) A commission maad in a lettre myssif forto visite the priory of Hertford by my lord Abbot in proper persone. 1477 King Edward IV Let. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1824) 1st Ser. I. 17 (MED) We have other tymes addressed our Lettres missiues vnto Robert Conestable for restitucion of the goods of Thomas Yare. 1533–4 Act 25 Hen. VIII c. 20 §3 A lycence vnder the greate seale..with a lettre myssyve, conteynyng the name of the persone which they shall electe and chose; By vertue of which licence the seid Deane and Chapitour..shall..electe..the seid person named in the seid letters myssyves. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 308 The letters missiue which..Edwarde the .vi. sent. 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 13 Alexander the Great had by his letters missive given commandement that the Greekes should provide Robes of purple against his returne. c1650 J. Row & J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1842) 63 His Maiestie sent aught missive letters, dated..To..(such a man) Minister of (such a place). 1679 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Reformation: 1st Pt. iii. 236 The King granted a Conge d'elire to the Prior and Convent, with a Missive Letter, declaring the name of the person whom they should choose. 1700 in Rothesay Town Council Rec. (1935) II. 535 A messive letter sent to the Magistrates from their Commissioner, craveing several soumes dew to him. 1713 E. Ward Hist. Grand Rebellion I. 29 For that the Letter missive to command His Absence, was without the Royal Hand. 1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. III. 445 If a peer is a defendant, the lord chancellor sends a letter missive to him to request his appearance. 1841 H. Hallam View Europe Middle Ages (ed. 8) I. iv. 397 John I had long before admitted, that what was done by cortes and general assemblies could not be undone by letters missive. 1863 H. Cox Inst. Eng. Govt. i. vi. 32 The Convention Parliament of 1688, elected by virtue of letters-missive written by the Prince of Orange. 1902 J. Gairdner Hist. Eng. Church 16th Cent. (1903) viii. 145 Priors and convents, or deans and chapters, were to elect bishops on receipt of the king's congé d'élire, which was to be accompanied with a letter-missive in favour of the king's nominee. 1980 Oxf. Compan. Law 761/1 In ecclesiastical law a letter missive is sent with the congé d'élire to the dean and chapter of a cathedral. †b. gen. A letter or epistle sent from one person or body to another. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun] epistleeOE pistleOE writOE letter?c1225 brief1330 writingc1384 missive letter1519 scroll1534 missive?1553 scrieve1581 favour1645 chitty1698 chit1757 mail letter1799 1519 W. Horman Vulgaria viii. f. 80^v Fyne and thynne papyr, seruynge for myssyue letters. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 35 The letters missyves of suche as be secreatores in the sayd countreis. ?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Civ ^v The second boke shall be of lettres missyues, in prose and in ryme. 1570 Southesk MSS in 7th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1879) App. ii. 12 Becaus thes causes are of grit wecht..and cannot be weill treatit be missyve lettres. 1620 N. Brent tr. P. Sarpi Hist. Councel of Trent ii. 133 Some letter, missiue or responsiue. 1658 E. Phillips New World Eng. Words A letter Missive, a letter which is sent from one friend to another. 1710 J. Chamberlayne Magnæ Britanniæ Notitia (ed. 23) i. iii. x. 281 Though the Number of Letters missive in England were not at all considerable in our Ancestors Days, yet it is now so prodigiously great (since the meanest People have generally learnt to write) that [etc.]. 1818 H. J. Todd Johnson's Dict. Eng. Lang. at Literary Not properly used of missive letters. †c. Scots Law. = sense B. 1. Also figurative. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1568 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 641 All missive lettres, contractis or obligationis for mariage [etc.]. 1637 S. Rutherford Lett. (1664) i. cxiii. 219 I know missive letters goe between the Devil & young blood. 1656 in J. A. Clyde Hope's Major Practicks (1938) II. 89 A promisse or offer be a missive letter susteined, notwithstanding the promise wes never accepted bot refuised. 1681 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. i. x. §9 Though the buyer by a Missive Letter, wrote, that he thought he would not be able to furnish the Money. 1681 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. iv. xlii. §25 Missive-Letters are Probative, except where they relate to more solemn Writs, such as Bonds, Bills, or Accompts. 1753 in W. M. Morison Decisions Court of Session (1807) XXXV. 15177 Barron granted a subset of certain lands to Duncan, for five years. The agreement was executed by mutual missive letters betwixt them. 1773 J. Erskine Inst. Law Scotl. II. iii. ii. §24 Missive letters in re mercatoria are valid, though they be not holograph. †d. U.S. In the Congregationalist Church: an official letter inviting a church to send delegates to a council. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > law > legal document > types of legal or official document > [noun] > letter or letters patent lettersc1300 brevet1362 letters patenta1387 patentc1387 missive letter1444 missive bill1522 charter-patent1589 letters overt1717 missive letter1798 1798 M. Cutler Let. 23 Oct. in W. P. Cutler & J. P. Cutler Life, Jrnls. & Corr. M. Cutler (1888) II. 4 We jointly addressed letters missive to eleven churches, all of whom complied, and the council was formed at my house. 1861 Proc. Council Congregational Churches 3 An ex-parte Council assembled..on the 2d day of May, 1861, at 2 o'clock P.M., pursuant to the following letter missive. 1880 H. M. Dexter Congregationalism x. 527 In what manner Councils are regularly called. This has been uniformly done by a form of written request, which has received the technical name of a Letter-Missive. †2. Scottish missive writing n. = missive letter n. at sense A. 1. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1518 Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes XXXI. f. 12^v Ane missive wryting send fra [etc.]. 1564 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 283 Heirupoun wer lettres direct and als missyve writtingis to this same effect sent to [etc.]. †3. Scottish missive bill n. = missive letter n. at sense A. 1. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > law > legal document > types of legal or official document > [noun] > letter or letters patent lettersc1300 brevet1362 letters patenta1387 patentc1387 missive letter1444 missive bill1522 charter-patent1589 letters overt1717 missive letter1798 1522 Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes XXXIII. f. 28b The missiue bill producit be Maister Robert Talbroucht in the Quenis name. 1525 Queen Margaret of Scotl. Let. to King Henry VIII in M. A. E. Wood Lett. Royal & Illustrious Ladies (1846) I. 365 Yet your grace will not have consideration thereof, but takes more tent to missive bills than to me your sister. a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) II. 112 This was done all for sending of ane missiwe bill in Ingland. 1579–80 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1880) 1st Ser. III. 256 Missive bill of Houstoun and New Work. 1615 in J. R. N. Macphail Highland Papers (1920) III. 228 Ansueris gevin in be the burrowis..to the missiue bill send to theme from his maiesties counsall. †II. Other senses. 4. gen. That is sent; sent on an errand. Also: sent as a message. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > authority > delegated authority > [adjective] > sent on a mission missivea1450 emissary1685 missionary1691 missioned1796 the world > movement > transference > sending > [adjective] sent1483 missive1628 society > communication > [adjective] > sent as a message missive1830 a1450 Quixley's Ballades in Yorks. Archæol. Jrnl. (1909) 20 42 (MED) Wedloke, þat hye and gode beneison Of god & of þe holy goost myssyue, By holy chirche doon with deuocion, Enspireth þe sacrament terme of lyue. 1605 W. Camden Remaines (1984) 299 That there was no contending with him who with missive bribes can prevaile against Justice. 1610 A. Willet Hexapla in Danielem 376 Christ is none of the missiue or ministring Angels. 1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. xlvii. 138 Scaliger defines Death to be the Cessation of the Soules functions: as if it were rather a restraint, than a missiue ill. 1830 W. Phillips Mt. Sinai i. 444 The missive words then told he. 5. Of a weapon, etc.: that can be used as a missile. Of an engine of war: that discharges projectiles, etc. Also used poetically of death or defeat. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > [adjective] missive1548 missile1610 projectile1838 society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > [adjective] missive1780 missile1819 1548 W. Patten Exped. Scotl. sig. I ij b Most of our artillerie & missiue engins. 1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 879 Not with their missiue weapons onely..but with their drawn swords. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 519 Thir Engins and thir Balls Of missive ruin. View more context for this quotation 1695 R. Blackmore Prince Arthur v. 135 Each on his Foe missive Destruction pours. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 603 The feather'd Arrows fly, And Clouds of missive Arms obscure the Sky. 1704 J. Swift Full Acct. Battel between Bks. in Tale of Tub 234 Ink is the great missive Weapon, in all Battels of the Learned. a1761 J. Cawthorn Poems (1771) 19 Where dreadful flew the missive deaths around. 1780 in Grose's Antiquarian Repertory (1808) III. 68 Nor among the defensive machines is the missive wheel to be despised... The missive chariot may also be effectually used. a1798 J. Palmer Like Master like Man (1811) I. x. 141 He hurl'd the missive weapon which transpierced the heart of his adverse chief. B. n. I. Senses relating to correspondence. 1. Scots Law. A document in the form of a letter interchanged by the parties to a contract (now usually one to do with property). Also in missive of lease, missive of sale, missive of tack. ΚΠ 1508 in R. K. Hannay Rentale Dunkeldense (1915) 2 Resavit..a note of ane hundreth mark aucht to my said lord..togidder witht ane missywe for the delyverance of the samyn. 1561 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1877) 1st Ser. I. 181 The charter party, and the missive, billis, and cocquet of the said schip. 1572 in J. H. Burton Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1878) 1st Ser. II. 139 The writting of missives and other writtis. 1707 Arch. & Hist. Coll. Ayr. & Wigtown IV. 221 Obtained be the pursewer against hir for the samen before the Laird of Langshaws Bailzie Court, as ane sygned missive..bears. 1773 J. Erskine Inst. Law Scotl. II. iii. ii. §2 Where an agreement concerning heritage is executed in the form of mutual missives. 1801 Farmer's Mag. Nov. 381 A missive of tack,..which made no mention of assignees,..was..found. 1816 W. Scott Black Dwarf ix, in Tales of my Landlord* 1st Ser. I. 210 There really should be some black and white on this transaction. Sae just make me a minute, or missive,..and I'se write it fair ower, and subscribe it before famous witnesses. 1832 Act 2 & 3 William IV c. 65 §9 Provided each Tenant..shall..have held such..Tenements under a Lease or Leases, Missive of Lease, or other written title. 1838 W. Bell Dict. Law Scotl. (at cited word) It would appear that missives of lease, like missives of sale, require to be stamped to found an action. 1884 Rep. Condition Crofters & Cottars Highlands & Islands Scotl. IV. 2987 What is the rule of the estate? Is it to hold under leases or not?—To hold under leases. These leases are not always extended. Usually there is a missive and acceptance. 1930 Encycl. Laws Scotl. IX. 60 A tested or holograph missive of lease for a period of years though not in form a lease..has the same effect as a formal lease. 1932 Session Cases 712 The missives embodied the contract between the parties until an adjusted disposition should be delivered. 1989 Sc. World Sept. 20/2 Once the exchange of missives is completed, the legal routine begins in earnest. 2. Originally chiefly Scottish. A written message, a letter, (now) esp. a long or official one; a missive letter. ΘΚΠ society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun] epistleeOE pistleOE writOE letter?c1225 brief1330 writingc1384 missive letter1519 scroll1534 missive?1553 scrieve1581 favour1645 chitty1698 chit1757 mail letter1799 ?1553 (c1501) G. Douglas Palice of Honour (London) ii. v, in Shorter Poems (2003) 56 Quhow Acontus Till Cedippa anone Wrate his complaint..With othir lusty myssyuis [1579 Edinb. missiues] mony one. 1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus ii. f. 28^v His small missiue belyue he gaif him fro, Vnto thir thre. 1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. 1237/1 A missiue persuasorie sent to the Scots for the marriage of their yoong queene Marie to our yoong king Edward the sixt. 1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. i. xxxix. 124 To spend their time in wittily devising, and closely hudling-vp of a quaint missive or wittie epistle. 1647 (title) A missive of consolation: sent from Flanders, to the Catholikes of England. 1685 in Rothesay Town Council Rec. (1935) I. 406 The balȝyes of Rothesay haveing conveint in order of ane messive sent to them be Sir George Drumond provost of Edinburgh. 1791 E. Gibbon Misc. Wks. (1814) I. 342 Had I delayed..another post, your missive of the 13^th..would have arrived in time. 1838 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Ferdinand & Isabella I. i. ix. 332 The marquis..had despatched missives, requesting the support of the principal lords..of Andalusia. 1879 F. W. Farrar Life & Work St. Paul I. vi. xix. 345 The circular missive from James and the Church at Jerusalem. 1885 A. Dobson At Sign of Lyre 188 Mysterious missives, sealed with red. 1939 War Illustr. 16 Dec. p. ii/3 Possessing a very large wastepaper basket, I give short shrift to all anonymous correspondents. A glance at any missive signed with a nom-de-plume and into that w.p.b. it goes. 1969 J. Gross Rise & Fall Man of Lett. v. 135 One of his hobbies was composing letters to dead authors, chatty little missives addressed to Q. Horatius Flaccus, Maître Françoys Rabelais, Henry Fielding Esq. 1983 M. FitzHerbert Man who was Greenmantle iii. 41 Raymond's kindly comment on one particularly convoluted missive. 3. Scottish (now historical). a. An official letter sent to each member of the Convention of Royal Burghs to announce a meeting of the Convention. ΘΚΠ society > communication > correspondence > letter > [noun] > official letter missive letter1444 missive1590 state letter1603 state1880 official1884 1590 in J. D. Marwick Rec. Convent. Royal Burghs Scotl. (1870) I. 330 The said burch sending with the burch ewest on dispensit with ane missiue autentiklye subscryuit. 1607 in W. Mackay & G. S. Laing Rec. Inverness (1924) II. 55 And thair to hawe voitit on certan heidis contenit in thair messiwe. 1926 T. Pagan Conv. Royal Burghs Scotl. 66 The yearly missive sent out to summon the burghs to the annual convention. b. More fully missive dues: the proportion of the administrative expenses of the Convention to be paid by each member, as specified in the missive. ΚΠ 1635 in Trans. Dumfries & Galloway Nat. Hist. & Antiquarian Soc. 17 317 To the clerkis for extracting of the comptis and messives to the burrowes. 1655 in W. Cramond Ann. Banff (1891) I. 139 [Patrick Stewart chosen as commissioner for the Convention of Burghs and allowed 14 marks] for being his charges by and attour the missive deves. 1677 in J. S. Dobie Munim. Irvine (1891) II. 275 Irwin's proportiown of 2821 lib. 12 s. for messeivs is 25 lib. 7 s. 1708 in J. D. Marwick Rec. Convent. Royal Burghs Scotl. (1880) IV. 463 Approved of the agent's accounts, the disbursements in which amount to £9,386, 15s. 12d. Scots, and ordained the burghs to pay their proportions of missive dues. 1926 T. Pagan Conv. Royal Burghs Scotl. 66 The agent appears to have advanced from his own funds for the expenses of the year and then the yearly missive..specified the proportion of the convention's expenditure which each burgh owed the agent, and the commissioner was supposed to bring the sum, known as ‘missive dues’, with him when he came to the meeting. 1961 Fraserburgh Herald 16 May It was unanimously agreed to pay the sum of £34 as missive dues for the Convention of Burghs. †II. Other senses. 4. A messenger. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > communication > information > message > [noun] > messenger erendrakec825 bodec888 apostlec950 sand1038 sandesman1123 sanderbodec1200 bearer?c1225 errand-bearer?c1225 messenger?c1225 erindeberea1250 sand-manc1275 beadsman1377 herald1377 messagea1382 runnera1382 sendmana1400 interpreter1490 nuntius1534 post1535 pursuivant?1536 nuncius1573 nuncio1587 carrier1594 nunciate1596 mercury1597 chiaus1599 foreranger1612 postera1614 irisa1616 missivea1616 chouse1632 angela1637 caduceator1684 purpose messenger1702 errand-bringer1720 harkara1747 commissionaire1749 carrier pigeon1785 errander1803 errand-porter1818 tchaush1819 card carrier1845 errand-goer1864 choush1866 ghulam1882 a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) i. v. 6 Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came Missiues from the King, who all-hail'd me Thane of Cawdor. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. ii. 78 With taunts Did gibe my Misiue out of audience. View more context for this quotation a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Henry IV ccclxxvi, in Poems (1878) IV. 95 Where trusted Ianizaries stand about The Tyrant, Missives to his Crueltye. 5. An object hurled or thrown; a missile. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > [noun] shaft1576 flinging1619 missive1644 missile1656 1644 K. Digby Two Treat. i. xii. 100 The stringes [of a racket]..do cause the missiues [sc. tennis balls] to speed so fast towardes their appoynted homes. 1809 W. Irving Hist. N.Y. II. vi. vii. 142 The heavens were darkened with a tempest of missives. 6. = missile n. 1. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > giving > gift or present > [noun] > gifts distributed among the people congiary1601 missiles1606 frumentation1623 missive1649 1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar i. §7. 110 How great things God hath done for us, whether in publick Donatives, or private Missives. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.n.1444
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