EPISTLE

a formal kind of letter; compositions addre ed by the Apostles to the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, and others; portion of Scripture appointed to be read in churches. The literary e. was largely cultivated by the ancients. Verse e’s were popularized in France by Marot, Boileau, Voltaire, and others. The form was also frequently used by Eng, poets, from XVI. to XIX, cent’s.