epistle

/ɪˈpɪsəl/
IPA guide

Other forms: epistles

An epistle is a long, formal letter. Several books of the Bible consist of epistles.

If you're used to emails and text messages, you might be surprised by the idea of the epistle — a letter that is very long and also very formal. An epistle isn't something you dash off in a few minutes while waiting for the bus. Epistles take time and thought to write, almost like doing a research paper. The Bible is full of many epistles — that's where many people have seen this word.

Definitions of epistle
  1. noun
    a specially long, formal letter
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    type of:
    letter, missive
    a written message addressed to a person or organization
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Word Family

Vocabulary lists containing epistle

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "Beyond Vietnam" (1967)

In this speech, delivered at Riverside Church in New York City, King expresses his opposition to the Vietnam War. Read the full text of the speech here

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In the Time of the Butterflies
Julia Alvarez

Based on the historical Mirabal sisters, this is a fictionalized account of why and how they decide to fight dictator Rafael Trujillo's oppressive regime in the Dominican Republic.

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Twelfth Night
William Shakespeare

After a shipwreck separates her from her twin brother, Viola disguises herself as a man so she can pass safely through the land of Illyria. There she befriends Duke Orsino and tries to help him win the affections of Countess Olivia. Read the full text here.

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