Where does “apostolic letter” come from?

apostolic letter (English) comes from English Apostolic, from Latin apostolicus, from Ancient Greek ἀποστολικός, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος, from Ancient Greek ἀποστέλλω, from Ancient Greek ἀπο-, from Ancient Greek ἀπό, from Ancient Greek Ἥλιος — to push, to hit.

apostolic letter (English): One of the books of the New Testament which was originally a letter issued by an apostle to an individual or a community

Definitions

  1. One of the books of the New Testament which was originally a letter issued by an apostle to an individual or a community

Ancestry of “apostolic letter”, step by step

apostolic letter traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Apostolic

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishApostolicPertaining to apostles or their practice or teaching; pertaining to the apostles (of early Christianity) or their teachings
2LatinapostolicusOf or pertaining to an apostle; apostolic;...
3Ancient Greekἀποστολικόςapostolic
4Ancient Greekἀπόστολοςone who is sent; messenger, envoy, ambassador;...
5Ancient Greekἀποστέλλωto send off, send away from; to send off,...
6Ancient Greekἀπο-Indicating movement: away, from, off; Indicating...
7Ancient Greekἀπόfrom, away from; because of, as a result of
8Ancient GreekἭλιοςsun
9Ancient GreekτύποςA blow, pressing; The results of a blow: mark,...
10Ancient Greekτύπτωto beat, strike, smite; to beat, strike oneself
11Proto-Indo-European(s)tewp-to push, to stick
12Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit

via English letter

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishletterA symbol in an alphabet; A written or printed...
2Middle Englishletter
3Old Frenchletreletter
4Latinlitteraa letter of the alphabet; handwriting; letter,...
5Latinlītera
6Old Latinleitera
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂leyH-to smear
8Proto-Indo-Europeanleyh₂-to die, disapear; to avoid, elude, decline,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew-Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tewp-Every word from Ancient Greek τύπτω
apostolic letter — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer