missive
UK: ˈmɪsɪv | US: ˈmɪsɪv
n. a formal or official written letter, especially one sent by a person in authority.
missive = miss<send> + ive<noun suffix>
- miss<send>: From Latin mittere (to send), preserved in English through derivatives like "mission" and "transmit."
- ive<noun suffix>: A suffix forming nouns, often indicating a result or product (e.g., "missive" = something sent).
Etymology Origin:
The word "missive" traces back to the Latin missus (past participle of mittere), meaning "sent." It entered Middle English via Old French missive, originally referring to a formal dispatch. The morpheme miss- retains its core meaning of "sending," while -ive nominalizes the action, creating a term for a written message. The evolution reflects the bureaucratic use of written communication in medieval Europe.
The ambassador received a confidential missive from the king.
She sealed the missive with wax before handing it to the courier.
Historical archives often contain missives between wartime leaders.
The missive outlined new policies for the colony.
His missive to the council was met with skepticism.