[ad. med.L. *correspondēntia, f. correspondēre: see CORRESPOND v. and -ENCE. In F. correspondance, 14th c.]
1. The action or fact of corresponding, or answering to each other in fitness or mutual adaptation; congruity, harmony, agreement. Also said of the relation of one of the corresponding things.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, IV. xxvi. (1483), 71. Somme maneor of correspondence or relacion must nedes ben bytwene the two that ben y lyke.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxx. § 4. They are in their times and seasons continued with the most exquisite correspondence.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus, i. 9. Considering … the sutable correspondence of the parts of the context.
1729. Butler, Serm., iii. Wks. 1874, II. 37. The correspondence of actions to the nature of the agent renders them natural.
1772. Sir J. Reynolds, Disc., v. (1876), 374. Perfect correspondence … between the subjects which he chose and his manner of treating them.
1809–10. Coleridge, Friend (1865), 23. By verbal truth we mean … the correspondence of a given fact to given words.
1860. Pusey, Min. Proph., 343, Micah vi. 14. The correspondence of the punishment with the sin shall shew that it is not by chance.
2. Relation of agreement, similarity or analogy.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. vi. § 4. Light … hath a relation and correspondence in … corporal things to knowledge in … incorporal things.
1672. Cave, Prim. Chr., I. vi. (1673), 135. The form … of their Churches was … oblong to keep the better correspondence with the fashion of a ship.
1729. Butler, Serm., i. Wks. 1874, II. 11. There is such a correspondence between the inward sensations of one man and those of another.
1868. Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, iii. (1870), 101. The most striking correspondence is that of Arès with Mars, both used to signify war itself.
1880. Nature, XXI. 212. The special interest of this planet [Mars] arising from its supposed close correspondence with the earth.
b. Doctrine of Correspondences: the tenet of Swedenborg, that every natural object symbolizes or corresponds to some spiritual fact or principle which is, as it were, its archetype or prototype, and that the Scriptures were written in harmony with these correspondences.
1860. J. Gardner, Faiths of World, II. 881/2. The doctrine of Correspondences … is the central idea of Swedenborg’s system.
1876. J. G. Wilkinson, Hum. Sc. & Div. Rev., 76. Now correspondences, according to which the Word of God is written, are equations between the spiritual and the natural worlds.
† 3. Concordant or sympathetic response. Obs.
1530–1. Act 22 Hen. VIII., c. 15. The … beneuolent myndes of his saied subiectes … toward his highnesse … by correspondence of gratitude to theym to be requited.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., Ded. A thankfull correspondence of affection and duty.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., II. Serm. on Mount, ¶ 3. To answer the importunity of our lusts, not by a denyall but by a correspondence and satisfaction.
1680. E. F., Life Edw. II., 4. Being now a King and a Soveraign, he expects a correspondence of the same nature.
† 4. Relation between persons or communities; usually qualified as good, friendly, fair, ill, etc. Obs. (Very common in 17th c.)
1599. Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 52. Preferments to enterteine them with in good content and correspondence.
1622–62. Heylin, Cosmogr., III. (1673), 166/2. There were so good Correspondences betwixt the Nations, that [etc.].
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 33. Our ill correspondence with the French Protestants.
1714. Swift, Pres. State Affairs. One step towards cultivating a fair correspondence with the power in possession.
1835. I. Taylor, Spir. Despot., iii. 110. The natural alliance … between Church and State … had given way to such a correspondence as belongs to a truce between enemies.
† 5. Intercourse, communication (between persons). Obs. exc. as in 6.
1603. B. Jonson, Sejanus, IV. v. He holds That correspondence, there, with all that are Neare about Cæsar, as no thought can passe Without his knowledge.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos., (1701), 5/2. The Phœnicians, with whom the Græcians had a very ancient correspondence.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl., 28 April. This amiable maiden has actually commenced a flirting correspondence with an Irish baronet of sixty-five.
1786. Burns, Ep. Yng. Friend, x. A correspondence fix’d wi’ Heaven Is sure a noble anchor.
† b. Often, intercourse or communications of a secret or illicit nature. Obs.
1639. Massinger, Unnat. Combat, I. i. If Your father … Held not or correspondence, or connived At his proceedings.
1697. Congreve, Mourning Bride, IV. i. Concerning Osmyn and his correspondence With them who first began the mutiny.
1734. trans. Rollin’s Anc. Hist. (1827), VI. XV. xviii. 308. Their impious correspondence with the devil.
1760–72. trans. Juan & Ulloa’s Voy. (ed. 3), I. 334. To … prevent the Indians … from … carrying on any clandestine correspondence with those whom his arms had not reached.
† c. Commercial intercourse: business relations.
1605. B. Jonson, Volpone, IV. i. To serue the State Of Venice with red herrings … from Roterdam, Where I haue correspondence.
1769. De Foe’s Tour Gt. Brit., I. 374. Exeter drives a very great Correspondence with Holland.
1798. W. Hutton, Autobiog., 20. I wished to fix a correspondence for what I wanted, without purchasing at second hand.
† d. Religious or ecclesiastical connection. Also concr. A connection, communion. Obs.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episc., xxxii. (1647), 192. I had rather speake a truth in sincerity, then erre with a glorious correspondence.
1649. Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., IV. ix. An Institution … kept both by all the Churches of the Roman-Correspondence, and by all the Reformed.
† e. Sexual intercourse. Obs.
1698. T. Froger, Relat. Voy., 14. Fasting and abstaining from correspondence with their wives.
† f. Of things: Physical communication. Obs.
1698. J. Crull, Muscovy, 49. The Caspian Sea … has no communication or correspondence with any other Sea.
1700. P. Rycaut, Hist. Turks, V. iii. 166/1. A secret Passage, by which the wet and moorish Ground kept a Correspondence with the Ditch.
g. fig. Of persons and things: Vital, practical or active communication.
1608. Hakewill, Van. Eye, 93. The braine (with which the eie holdes a maruelous correspondence).
1727. De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. ii. (1840), 46. The wise Men of the East … maintained a correspondence with the stars.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., VI. 81. How short our correspondence with the sun!
1821. Lamb, Elia, Old Benchers. Sun-dials … holding correspondence with the fountain of light.
1883. H. Drummond, Nat. Law in Spir. W., v. (1884), 147. In biological language he is said thus to be ‘in correspondence with his environment.’ He is, that is to say, in active and vital connection with them, influencing them possibly, but especially being influenced by them.
6. Intercourse or communication by letters.
1644. Milton, Educ. (1738), 135. Not to mention the learned correspondence which you hold in foreign parts.
1741. Middleton, Cicero (ed. 3), II. VI. 66. Cicero, with whom he held a correspondence of Letters.
1781. Cowper, Lett., 25 Aug. Letter for letter is the law of all correspondence.
1810. Scott, Lett., 18 March, in Lockhart. The risks of sentimental correspondence.
1875. Helps, Organ. Daily Life, Ess. 146. As education advances … there will be more correspondence by letters.
Mod. Newspaper. This correspondence must now cease.
b. The letters that pass between correspondents; also, letters contributed to a newspaper or journal (cf. CORRESPONDENT B. 4 b).
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl., Introd. Printing the private correspondence of persons still living.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Montaigne, Wks. (Bohn), I. 336. The correspondence of Pope and Swift.
1868. G. Duff, Pol. Surv., 30. The Times’ correspondence from Hungary.
1891. Post Office Guide, April, 33 Railway Sub-offices (i. e. offices which receive their correspondence direct from a Travelling Post Office).
