epistle
epistle — noun
- epistlesingular
- epistlesplural
1. a written message that one person sends to another, especially when the style is
a written message that one person sends to another, especially when the style is formal or the word is used to give an old-fashioned or respectful tone
Inês found a bundle of old epistles tied with ribbon in the attic.
count + of: a bundle of epistles
The ambassador sent a formal epistle to the foreign minister regarding the trade agreement.
formal + epistle: collocation for official correspondence
For his ninetieth birthday, Grandfather Chen wrote each grandchild a personal epistle in careful handwriting.
Historians discovered several unpublished epistles exchanged between the two poets.
After retiring, Uncle James wrote monthly epistles to grandchildren about family history and life lessons.
用法筆記
In modern everyday English, 'letter' is the standard word. 'Epistle' sounds old-fashioned or very formal, and is often used deliberately for stylistic or humorous effect.
常見錯誤
2. A letter-like book within the Christian scriptures, composed by an early church
A letter-like book within the Christian scriptures, composed by an early church leader such as Paul to instruct or encourage a specific community or person.
Ezra studied the Epistle to the Galatians for his sermon on Sunday morning.
the Epistle to + [book name]: standard naming pattern
The pastor read a passage from one of Paul’s epistles during the evening service.
Paul’s epistles: common collocation for letters attributed to Saint Paul
Kwame and Ito debated whether Paul or a follower wrote the Epistle to the Ephesians.
Gabriela referenced three different epistles in her thesis on early Christian communities.
- letter
the general term; 'epistle' within Christian contexts is a technical term for New Testament writings
用法筆記
When referring to a specific biblical book, 'Epistle' is usually capitalized (e.g., 'the Epistle to the Romans'). Outside of biblical contexts, the lowercase form may be used playfully to compare a long message to a scripture-like letter.
常見錯誤
3. a letter that is unusually long, serious, or carefully written, sometimes compos
a letter that is unusually long, serious, or carefully written, sometimes composed as a literary work intended for publication rather than private reading only
Quan received a ten-page epistle from the professor explaining why the thesis needed major changes.
ten-page epistle: hyperbolic or humorous use for a long message
Alexander Pope wrote verse epistles to friends, blending personal news with ideas in rhyming form.
verse epistle: literary genre, a poem written as a letter
Sivan opened the email expecting a short reply and found a lengthy epistle instead.
Jisoo wrote an emotional epistle to the city council about the neighborhood’s highway concerns.
用法筆記
This sense is often used humorously or with mild exaggeration. Calling a message an 'epistle' suggests it is noticeably longer or more serious than a typical letter or email.