penfriendshipn.
/ˈpɛnfrɛn(d)ʃɪp/, U.S. /ˈpɛnˌfrɛn(d)ˌʃɪp/ A relationship formed through the medium of letter-writing; an instance of this. Cf. penfriend n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > [noun] > friendship > relationship between penfriends
penfriendship1909
penpalship1960
penpalmanship1966
1909 Amer. Photogr. Jan. 3 Often we wished we could get together and have a long talk on many points that had developed in the course of our pen friendship.
1943 F. Thompson Candleford Green iv. 65 The correspondence languished, then ceased, in the usual manner of such pen-friendships.
1993 United Church Observer June 40/4 Form a penfriendship. If you're interested, Kidpower can find you someone to write to on lazy summer days.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1909