LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininefirst declension

epistola

epistola f (genitive epistolae)
Classical[ɛˈpɪs.tɔ.ɫa]Ecclesiastical[eˈpis.to.la]

Meaning

  1. femininea letter, epistle
  2. femininea written imperial decree

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Literæ · Epistola · Codicilli

Literæ is the most general expression for a letter; epistola is one directed to a distant friend, and sent by a messenger; codicilli, an address to one within the same walls, as a note. Sen. Ep. 55. Adeo tecum sum ut dubitem an incipiam non epistolas sed codicillos tibi scribere. Cic. Fam. vi. 18. Simul accepi a Seleuco tuo literas; statim quæsivi e Balbo per codicillos quid esset in lege. (vi. 198.)

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeepistolaepistolae
epistulae
genitiveepistolae
epistulae		epistolārum
epistulārum
dativeepistolae
epistulae		epistolīs
epistulīs
accusativeepistolam
epistulam		epistolās
epistulās
ablativeepistolāepistolīs
epistulīs
vocativeepistolaepistolae
epistulae

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

epistulam deprehendere
to take forcible possession of a letter.
epistularum commercium
correspondence.
epistulam signare, obsignare
to seal, fasten a letter.
epistulam dare alicui ad aliquem
to charge some one with a letter for some one else.
epistulam intercipere (Att. 1. 13. 2)
to intercept a letter.
epistulam reddere alicui (Att. 5. 21. 4)
to deliver a letter to some one (used of the messenger).
epistulam (litteras) dare, scribere, mittere ad aliquem
to write a letter to some one.
epistulam solvere, aperire, resignare (of Romans also linum incīdere)
to open a letter.

ĕpīstŏla, ae, v. epistula.

Origins

From Ancient Greek ἐπιστολή (epistolḗ), from ἐπιστέλλω (epistéllō, “to send a message”), from ἐπί (epí, “upon”) + στέλλω (stéllō, “to prepare, send”).

Descendants
  • Catalanepístola
  • GermanEpistel
  • Italianepistola
  • Englishepistlefrom Old French epistre
  • Frenchépîtrefrom Old French epistre
  • Portugueseepístola
  • Romanianepistolă
  • Spanishepístola
  • Frenchépistule
  • Frenchépistole

In English words that came into English from epistola

  • epistleepistola
  • epistolaryepistolārius
  • pistleepistola
  • epistologyepistola

Quick answers

What does epistola mean in Latin?
epistola, a noun, means “a letter, epistle; a written imperial decree”.
What is the genitive of epistola?
The genitive singular is epistolae. epistola is feminine, first declension.
How do you pronounce epistola?
In classical Latin, [ɛˈpɪs.tɔ.ɫa]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [eˈpis.to.la].
Which English words come from epistola?
English words that go back to Latin epistola include epistle, pistle, epistology and epistolary.