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 |