I. ˈmisiv, -sēv also -səv adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French missif, from Medieval Latin missivus, from Latin missus (past participle of mittere to send) + -ivus -ive — more at smite
1. : specially sent or prepared to be sent — see letter missive
2. : missile
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French ( lettre ) missive, from lettre letter + missive, feminine of missif
1. : a written communication : letter
many of their missives were illiterate, and the more violent of them were unsigned — R.B.Merriman
often : a formal or official letter
the driver delivered the missive at the embassy door — Upton Sinclair
2. Scots law : a formal authenticated document in the style of a letter by which a party to a contract submits to the other contracting party his own offer or acceptance
3. obsolete : messenger
came missives from the king, who all-hail'd me thane of Cawdor — Shakespeare
4. : something that is thrown or used as a weapon : missile
making use of any missive , even a proverb, that came ready to hand — Aldous Huxley