| 释义 |
epis·tle
I. \ə̇ˈpisəl, ēˈ-\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English epistel, epistle, epistole, from Old French, Late Latin & Latin; Old French epistle, from Late Latin epistola, epistula biblical epistle, from Latin, letter, from Greek epistolē order, message, epistle, from epistellein to send to, order, from epi- + stellein to make ready, send — more at stall
1. usually capitalized
a. : one of the letters of the New Testament
< the General Epistles follow Paul's Epistles — Madeleine S. & J.L.Miller >
b. : a lection usually from one of the New Testament Epistles and read or sung as part of a Christian liturgical service (as in Roman Catholic and Anglican churches)
< the subdeacon sings the Epistle for the day at high Mass >
2.
a. : letter
< flinging the journal into the farthest corners and sitting down to indite epistles — H.A.Overstreet >
< Pope Gelasius … in his epistle mentioning the legend — G.C.Sellery >
b. : a composition in prose or poetry written in the form of a letter to a particular person or group
< in spite of Bacon's disclaimer, in a dedicatory epistle to Andrewes — Douglas Bush >
< a digressive verse epistle >
II. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
archaic : write |