Part 794

Ep"i*sperm (?), n. [Pref. epi- + Gr. &?; seed: cf. F. épisperme.] (Bot.) The skin or coat of a seed, especially the outer coat. See Testa.

Ep`i*sper"mic (?), a. (Bot.) Pertaining, or belonging, to the episperm, or covering of a seed.

Ep"i*spore (?), n. [Pref. epi- + spore.] (Bot.) The thickish outer coat of certain spores.

||Ep`i*stax"is (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'epi` upon + &?; to drop.] (Med.) Bleeding at the nose.

E*pis`te*mol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; knowledge + -logy.] The theory or science of the method or grounds of knowledge.

Ep`i*ster"nal (?), a. (Anat. & Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the episternum.

||Ep`i*ster"num (?), n.; pl. Episterna (#). [NL. See Epi-, and Sternum.] 1. (Anat.) (a) A median bone connected with the sternum, in many vertebrates; the interclavicle. (b) Same as Epiplastron.

2. (Zoöl.) One of the lateral pieces next to the sternum in the thorax of insects.

Ep`i*stil"bite (?), n. [Pref. epi- + stilbite.] (Min.) A crystallized, transparent mineral of the Zeolite family. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime.

E*pis"tle (?), n. [OE. epistle, epistel, AS. epistol, pistol, L. epistola, fr. Gr. &?; anything sent by a messenger, message, letter, fr. &?; to send to, tell by letter or message; 'epi` upon, to + &?; 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.

A madman's epistles are no gospels.

Shak.

2. (Eccl.) One of the letters in the New Testament which were addressed to their Christian brethren by Apostles.

Epistle side, the right side of an altar or church to a person looking from the nave toward the chancel.

One sees the pulpit on the epistle side.

R. Browning.

E*pis"tle, v. t. To write; to communicate in a letter or by writing. [Obs.] Milton.

E*pis"tler (?), n. 1. A writer of epistles, or of an epistle of the New Testament. M. Arnold.

2. (Eccl.) The ecclesiastic who reads the epistle at the communion service.

E*pis"to*lar (?), a. Epistolary. Dr. H. More.

E*pis"to*la*ry (?), a. [L. epistolaris, fr. epistola: cf. F. épistolaire.] 1. Pertaining to epistles or letters; suitable to letters and correspondence; as, an epistolary style.

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2. Contained in letters; carried on by letters. "Epistolary correspondence." Addison.

Ep`is*to"le*an (p`s*t"l*an), n. One who writes epistles; a correspondent. Mary Cowden Clarke.

E*pis"to*ler (*ps"t*lr), n. (Eccl.) One of the clergy who reads the epistle at the communion service; an epistler.

E*pis"to*let (-lt), n. A little epistle. Lamb.

{ Ep`is*tol"ic (?), Ep`is*tol"ic*al (?), } a. [L. epistolicus, Gr. &?;.] Pertaining to letters or epistles; in the form or style of letters; epistolary.

E*pis"to*lize (?), v. i. To write epistles.