Epistle (?), n. [OE. epistle, epistel, AS. epistol, pistol, L. epistola, fr. Gr. &unr_; anything sent by a messenger, message, letter, fr. &unr_; to send to, tell by letter or message; 'epi upon, to + &unr_; to dispatch, send; cf. OF. epistle, epistre, F. épître. See Stall.] 1. A writing directed or sent to a person or persons; a written communication; a letter; -- applied usually to formal, didactic, or elegant letters.
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A madman's epistles are no gospels. Shak.
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2. (Eccl.) One of the letters in the New Testament which were addressed to their Christian brethren by Apostles.
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Epistle side, the right side of an altar or church to a person looking from the nave toward the chancel.
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One sees the pulpit on the epistle side. R. Browning.
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