postil

1 of 2

noun

pos·​til

ˈpästə̇l

plural -s

1

a

: a marginal note : comment

specifically : an explanatory marginal note in the Bible

b

postils plural, obsolete : commentary

2

a

obsolete : a short homily on a Scriptural passage

especially : one on the Gospel or Epistle for the day

b

: a collection of such homilies

postil

2 of 2

transitive verb

"

postiled or postilled; postiled or postilled; postiling or postilling; postils

archaic

: to write marginal comments in (a text) : annotate, gloss

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English postille, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin postilla, probably from post illa (verba textus) after those words of the text, from Latin post after + illa, neuter accusative plural of ille that

Transitive verb

Middle English postilen, from Middle French postiller, from Medieval Latin postillare, from postilla

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