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missive

 - 3 dictionary results

mis⋅sive

  [mis-iv]
Use missive in a Sentence
–noun
1. a written message; letter.
–adjective
2. sent or about to be sent, esp. of a letter from an official source.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME (letter) missive < ML (littera) missīva sent (letter), equiv. to L miss(us) (ptp. of mittere to send) + -īva, fem. of -īvus -ive
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To missive
mis·sive   (mĭs'ĭv)   
n.  A written message; a letter. See Synonyms at letter.

[From Middle English (letter) missive, (letter) sent (by superior authority), from Medieval Latin (litterae) missīvae, feminine pl. of missīvus, sent, from Latin missus, past participle of mittere, to send.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

missive 
1444, from M.L. missivus "for sending, sent," esp. in littera missiva "letters sent," from L. missus, pp. of mittere "to send."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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