missive

[mis-iv]

noun

1. a written message; letter.

adjective

1. sent or about to be sent, especially of a letter from an official source.

missive

/ ˈmɪsɪv /

noun

1. a formal or official letter

2. a formal word for letter

adjective

1. rare,  sent or intended to be sent

Word History and Origins

Origin of missive¹

1400–50; late Middle English ( letter ) missive < Medieval Latin ( littera ) missīva sent (letter), equivalent to Latin miss ( us ) (past participle of mittere to send) + -īva, feminine of -īvus -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of missive¹

C15: from Medieval Latin missivus , from mittere to send

Example Sentences

Finance and private equity executives rave about Free Press missives against purportedly “woke” attitudes and DEI initiatives that they believe have made it more difficult to do business.

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Soon after reporting vote totals on Tuesday morning, AMA leadership sent another missive saying that veteran Magic Castle general manager Hervé Lévy was leaving his position, effective Tuesday.

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The lengthy missive said the centre couldn't pay its debts and had entered voluntary administration.

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During Tuesday's news conference, Utah County prosecutor Jeff Gray said instead of deleting the messages like Robinson asked, the roommate provided the missives to police.

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Well, almost certainly nothing to Putin, who likely grasped immediately he is not the intended audience for this missive.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• memo 
• memorandum