epistle

Từ điển American Heritage Dictionary 4th

e·pis·tle (ĭ-pĭsʹəl)n.
1. A letter, especially a formal one. See Synonyms at letter.
2. A literary composition in the form of a letter.
3. Epistle Bible.
a. One of the letters included as a book in the New Testament.
b. An excerpt from one of these letters, read as part of a religious service. [Middle English epistel, from Old French epistle, from Latin epistola, from Greek epistolē, from epistellein, to send a message to : epi-, epi- + stellein, to send; See stel- in Indo-European Roots.]