Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “epistolary” come from?

epistolary (English) comes from Latin epistolārius, from Latin epistola, from Ancient Greek ἐπιστολή, from Ancient Greek ἐπιστέλλω, from Ancient Greek ἐπί, from Ancient Greek Ἡμέρα, from Ancient Greek ἦμαρ, from Proto-Hellenic ā́mər — to be hot; to burn.

epistolary (English): Of or relating to letters, or the writing of...

Definitions

  1. Of or relating to letters, or the writing of...

Ancestry of “epistolary”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinepistolārius—
2Latinepistolaa letter, epistle; a written imperial decree
3Ancient Greekἐπιστολήmessage, letter; command, commission, injunction;...
4Ancient GreekἐπιστέλλωI send to, inform by letter/message; I order,...
5Ancient Greekἐπίas well, besides; For usage in composition, see...
6Ancient GreekἩμέρα—
7Ancient Greekἦμαρday; by day; midday
8Proto-Hellenicā́mər—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃mr̥heat
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃-to be hot; to burn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- →