v. Also 9 epistlize. [f. L. epistol-a EPISTLE + -IZE.]
1. intr. To write a letter.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. I. i. 2. There are some who … Preach when they should Epistolize.
1828. Southey, Lett. (1856), IV. 117. This may stand over … till I epistolize again.
a. 1834. Lamb, Final Mem. (1848), II. 111. Very very tired I began this epistle, having been epistolising all the morning.
2. trans. To write a letter to (a person).
1739. Mrs. Delany, Autobiog. & Corr. (1861), II. 50. It is not always in my power to do what I like best, or you would have been epistolized much sooner.
1773. Gibbon, Misc. Wks. (1814), II. 112. Forgive and epistolize me.
1789. Cowper, Lett., 23 June. I hope it will be long before I shall have occasion to epistolize thee again.
1810. Byron, Let. H. Drury, 3 May. St. Paul need not trouble himself to epistolise the present brood of Ephesians.
1829. Whewell, in Todhunter, Acc. W.’s Writ. (1876), II. 101. I epistolize you in preference to [etc.].
1835. Tait’s Mag., II. 92. He thus retrospectively epistlized his friend.
Hence Epistolizer, a writer of letters. Epistolizing vbl. sb.
1634. W. Wood, New Eng. Prosp., Ded. Note. I should take upon me the usuall straine of a soothing Epistolizer.
1760. Sterne, Lett., 3 Aug. Wks. 1819, IV. 194. A fine set essay in the style of your female epistolizers, cut and trimm’d at all points.
1856. Chamb. Jrnl., V. 66. That production so dear to the feminine epistoliser—a crossed letter.
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. III. xxxvii. 99. Cryptology, or Epistolizing in a Clandestin way, is very ancient.
1715. trans. Pancirollus’ Rerum Mem., II. xiv. 364. This way of Epistolizing made use of no Notes.
1804. Southey, Lett. (1856), I. 283. Do you admire the catechistical form of epistolising?
