MISSIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does missive mean? 

• MISSIVE (noun)
  The noun MISSIVE has 1 sense:

1. a written message addressed to a person or organization

  Familiarity information: MISSIVE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MISSIVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A written message addressed to a person or organization

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

letter; missive

Context example:

mailed an indignant letter to the editor

Hypernyms ("missive" is a kind of...):

text; textual matter (the words of something written)

document (anything serving as a representation of a person's thinking by means of symbolic marks)

Meronyms (parts of "missive"):

postscript; PS (a note appended to a letter after the signature)

address; destination; name and address (written directions for finding some location; written on letters or packages that are to be delivered to that location)

line (text consisting of a row of words written across a page or computer screen)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "missive"):

open letter (a letter of protest; addressed to one person but intended for the general public)

invitation (a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something)

letter of intent (any letter expressing an intention to take (or forgo) some action)

dead letter; dead mail (mail that can neither be delivered nor returned)

epistle (a specially long, formal letter)

aerogram; aerogramme; air letter; airmail letter (a letter sent by air mail)

round robin (a letter signed by a number of people)

pastoral (a letter from a pastor to the congregation)

chain letter (a letter that is sent successively to several people)

form letter (a letter that is printed in multiple copies and mailed to a list of recipients)

personal letter (a letter dealing with personal affairs)

fan letter (a letter that is a piece of fan mail)

encyclical; encyclical letter (a letter from the pope sent to all Roman Catholic bishops throughout the world)

crank letter (a hostile (usually anonymous) letter)

cover letter; covering letter (a letter sent along with other documents to provide additional information)

business letter (a letter dealing with business)

Holonyms ("missive" is a part of...):

mail (the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service)

correspondence (communication by the exchange of letters)

 Context examples 

With this missive (which I was in twenty minds at once about recalling, as soon as it was out of my hands), the ticket-porter at last departed.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The Houyhnhnms indeed appear not to be so well prepared for war, a science to which they are perfect strangers, and especially against missive weapons.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Having dispatched which missive, Mr. Copperfield fell into a condition of strong nervous agitation; and so remained until the day arrived.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

If your more important avocations should admit of your ever tracing these imperfect characters thus far—which may be, or may not be, as circumstances arise—you will naturally inquire by what object am I influenced, then, in inditing the present missive?

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)