Epistolists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person who writes letters, often for communication or literary purposes; an author of epistles or formal written correspondence; one engaged in the art or craft of letter writing for personal or public sharing
2. An individual skilled in the composition of letters, particularly in the context of correspondence; a writer who specializes in crafting epistles for various audiences; someone who expresses thoughts and ideas through written letters
3. Someone who creates written messages in letter form, possibly for literary or personal expression; a contributor of epistles that may convey information, emotions, or artistic insights; a writer dedicated to the practice of letter writing as a genre

Etymology: "Epistolists" is simply the plural of "epistolist," so it is the form of that noun used when referring to several letter writers at once. The singular "epistolist" is built from "epistle," which descends from Latin "epistula," a letter, itself borrowed from Greek "epistole," meaning a message or missive. The "-ist" ending marks a person who practises or deals with something, the same pattern found in "novelist" or "pianist," so an epistolist is, in effect, someone who specialises in epistles.