epistolary

American  

[ih-pis-tl-er-ee] / ɪˈpɪs tlˌɛr i /

adjective

1. contained in or carried on by letters.

   an epistolary friendship.

2. of, relating to, or consisting of letters.

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epistolary British  

/ ɪˈpɪstələrɪ /

adjective

1. relating to, denoting, conducted by, or contained in letters

2. (of a novel or other work) constructed in the form of a series of letters

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unepistolary
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of epistolary

First recorded in 1620–30; from Late Latin epistolārius, from Latin epistolāris “of, belonging to a letter; pertaining to letter writing”; see epistle, -ar ¹

Explanation

Any correspondence, communication, or other text written in the form of a letter or series of letters is said to be epistolary. They've gone out of fashion now, but in the 18th and 19th centuries, the "epistolary novel" — written in the form of fictional letters to and from various correspondents — was all the rage. One of the most famous such novels is Bram Stoker's Dracula. Along with other things, like newspaper clippings and journal entries, the story is told through telegrams and letters exchanged between characters. Epistolary is related to the word epistle, a fancy term for "letter."

Example Sentences

In the play “Love Letters — A True-Ly Short Epistolary Romance,” Melody and Luke are two autistic nonspeakers who fall for each other over email.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 29, 2023

Epistolary autobiographies are possible only if one writes letters often and well — like the maverick painter Peter Saul.

From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2020

When Thomas Jefferson penned a letter expounding a revolutionary idea or explaining the difference between dry, sweet and astringent wines, he noted the correspondence in his Epistolary Record.

From Time Magazine Archive

It is presumed that what this gentleman says of the difficulties attending a Story thus given in the Epistolary manner of writing, will not be found to reach the History before us.

From Clarissa: Preface, Hints of Prefaces, and Postscript by Richardson, Samuel

Epistolary Diction used by the Muhamedans of Africa in their Correspondence with all their Friends who are not of the Muhamedan Faith, A.D.

From An Account of Timbuctoo and Housa Territories in the Interior of Africa by Jackson, James Grey