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View synonyms for missive

missive

[ mis-iv ]

noun

  1. a written message; letter.


adjective

  1. sent or about to be sent, especially of a letter from an official source.

missive

/ ˈmɪsɪv /

noun

  1. a formal or official letter
  2. a formal word for letter
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


adjective

  1. rare.
    sent or intended to be sent
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of missive1

1400–50; late Middle English ( letter ) missive < Medieval Latin ( littera ) missīva sent (letter), equivalent to Latin miss ( us ) (past participle of mittere to send) + -īva, feminine of -īvus -ive
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Word History and Origins

Origin of missive1

C15: from Medieval Latin missivus , from mittere to send
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Example Sentences

The surprising missive touched off days of frantic phone calls and parsing of legalese.

The missive drew nearly 2,000 responses, most in defense of the sacred cookware, including a small number of nasty responses.

It’s an oddly-timed missive given that Thanksgiving is only one week away.

From Fortune

Armstrong’s missive is, of course, a political statement all its own.

From Fortune

Contrast that information with a missive sent out by County Supervisor Jim Desmond on Monday.

In his signature style, it was the most un-PC and perhaps the most on point missive to come out of Canadian media.

This missive could just be read as your standard step-around; an attempt to dismantle a potential PR bomb before it detonates.

The missive was received back in London by David Barrie, a senior diplomat, who appended his own note.

The missive was passed to Washington through a Swiss diplomat and rejected without even a response by the Bush team.

A cringeworthy missive Max sends Andy a few days after their wedding officially ends any honeymoon phase for the reader.

You may imagine the effect this missive produced upon the proud, high-minded doctor of divinity.

No such missive had, to his knowledge, ever before found its way into the aristocratic precincts of Crompton Place.

In this very clumsy way he had at last reached the desk, and presented his missive.

She arose from the table and handed me a daintily scented missive addressed to Mrs. Shadd, and I faithfully executed her errand.

It will be supposed that the letter and I passed each other on the way, and that I reached here after the missive was sent.

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