verbal message; word from someone
Archaic or highly literary term for a spoken or written message, often with a nuance of a gracious or esteemed communication. Not used in everyday conversation.
An old letter read, 'I am deeply honored to receive your gracious message.'
鳳 (ほう, 'phoenix') + 声 (せい, 'voice'). The phoenix is a mythical bird associated with auspiciousness and nobility, so the compound suggests a message as gracious as the voice of a phoenix. The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it is a classical Chinese-derived expression.