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

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

From BBC

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.

From BBC

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

From Salon

The missives have largely mimicked the president’s own social media patois, with hyperbole, petty insults and a heavy reliance on the “caps lock” key.

From Los Angeles Times

Jeff adopted a stern, fatherly tone with his mom, which the documentary illustrates with the missives he left on her answering machine.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• memo 
• memorandum