A.anything sent by a messenger, message, order, commission, whether verbal or in writing, Hdt.4.10, Th.8.45, etc.; ἐξ ἐπιστολῆς by command, Hdt.6.50: used by Trag. always in pl., A.Pr.3, Pers.783, Supp.1012, S.Aj.781, OC1601, etc.; Πενθέως ἐπιστολαῖς by his commands, E.Ba.442; τέκνων ἐπιστολὰς ἔγραψεν commands about her children, Id.Hipp.858.
2.. letter, ἐ. διαπέμπειν, ἀποδοῦναι, Th.1.129, 7.10; “λύειν” Id.1.132; “ἐ. ἔδωκεν ἀποδοῦναι” Lys.20.27; πέμπειν “τινί” E.IT589 (pl.): in pl. of one letter, like γράμματα, Lat. litterae, Id.IA111,314, Th.1.132, etc.; ὁ ἐπὶ τῶν ἐπιστολῶν . . τοῦ Ὄθωνος, Lat. ab epistulis Othoni, his secretary, Plu.Oth.9; νομογραφικὴ ἐ. BGU1135.7(i B.C.).
