Missive
/ˈmɪs.ɪv/noun
A written message or letter, especially one sent officially.
Did you know?The word 'missive' comes from the Latin 'mittĕre', which means 'to send', and relates to the idea of messages carrying not just words, but often secrets and intentions.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*mei-
“to send or to change”
Latin
Latin
mittĕre
“to send, to let go”
Old French
Old French
missif
“sent, dispatched”
Middle English
Middle English
missif
“a written message or letter”
Modern English
English
missive
“a term for official correspondence or letters”