I. ə̇ˈpistəˌlerē, ēˈ-, -ri adjective
also epis·to·la·to·ry -tələˌtōrē, -ȯr-, -ri
Etymology: epistolary from French or Late Latin; French épistolaire, from Late Latin epistolarius, from Latin epistola + -arius -ary; epistolatory alteration of epistolary
1. : of, relating to, or suitable to a letter or epistle
the ordinary Greek epistolary salutation is the infinitive of the verb “rejoice” — E.J.Goodspeed
retain their epistolary prowess — New Republic
an epistolary style
2. : contained in or carried on by letters
qualifying statements (chiefly epistolary ) … which amount to a confession of polemical overstatement — G.L.Kline
an endless sequence of … epistolary love affairs — Times Literary Supplement
3. : written in the form of a series of letters
the epistolary novel
an epistolary short story
II. noun
or epis·to·lar·i·um ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈla(a)rēəm
( plural epistolaries or epistolariums )
Etymology: Medieval Latin epistolarium, from Late Latin epistola + Latin -arium -ary
: a lectionary containing the liturgical Epistles