I. ˈpästə̇l noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English postille, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin postilla, probably from post illa ( verba textus ) after those words of the text, from Latin post after + illa, neuter accusative plural of ille that — more at post- , alarm
1.
a. : a marginal note : comment ; specifically : an explanatory marginal note in the Bible
b. postils plural , obsolete : commentary
2.
a. obsolete : a short homily on a Scriptural passage ; especially : one on the Gospel or Epistle for the day
b. : a collection of such homilies
II. transitive verb
( postiled or postilled ; postiled or postilled ; postiling or postilling ; postils )
Etymology: Middle English postilen, from Middle French postiller, from Medieval Latin postillare, from postilla
archaic : to write marginal comments in (a text) : annotate , gloss