Hypertext Webster Gateway: "missive"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Missive \Mis"sive\, a. [See {Missive}, n.]
1. Specially sent; intended or prepared to be sent; as, a
letter missive. --Ayliffe.
2. Missile. ``The missive weapons fly.'' --Dryden.
{Letters missive}, letters conveying the permission, comand,
or advice of a superior authority, as a sovereign. They
are addressed and sent to some certain person or persons,
and are distinguished from letters patent, which are
addressed to the public.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Missive \Mis"sive\, n. [F. lettre missive. See {Mission}, n.]
1. That which is sent; a writing containing a message.
2. One who is sent; a messenger. [Obs.] --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
missive
n : a written message addressed to a person or organization;
"wrote an indignant letter to the editor" [syn: {letter}]
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