n. 1 joc. a letter, esp. a long and serious one. 2 an official letter. letter (or letters) missive a letter from a sovereign to a dean and chapter nominating a person to be elected bishop.
[ ME f. med.L missivus f. L (as MISSION) ]
n. 1 joc. a letter, esp. a long and serious one. 2 an official letter. letter (or letters) missive a letter from a sovereign to a dean and chapter nominating a person to be elected bishop.
[ ME f. med.L missivus f. L (as MISSION) ]
Concise Oxford English dictionary. Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2012