epistolary

[ih-pis-tl-er-ee]

adjective

1. contained in or carried on by letters.

   an epistolary friendship.

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

epistolary

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• unepistolary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epistolary¹

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

Example Sentences

She told the audience she initially doubted it would break out because “epistolary novels usually don’t work.”

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Updike was falsely modest when he apologized to correspondents for his lack of epistolary talent.

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In last year’s Bob Dylan biopic, “A Complete Unknown,” Dylan and Johnny Cash appear together on screen just twice, after a long epistolary bromance.

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Despite this epistolary “mind control,” Roberts soldiered on, landing his first TV gig in 1977 on the soap opera “Another World.”

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Cyrano’s verbal coaching and epistolary interventions provide a means for him to express all that is locked away in his heart.

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