epitome
Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word epitome. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word epitome, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say epitome in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word epitome you have here. The definition of the word epitome will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofepitome, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: epítome
English
Etymology
From Middle French, from Latin epitomē, from Ancient Greek ἐπιτομή (epitomḗ, “an abridgment, also a surface-incision”), from ἐπιτέμνω (epitémnō, “I cut upon the surface, cut short, abridge”), from ἐπι- (epi-, “up”) + τέμνω (témnō, “to cut”).
Pronunciation
Noun
epitome (plural epitomes or epitomai)
- The embodiment or encapsulation of a class of items.
- Synonyms: exemplar, model, type; see also Thesaurus:exemplar, Thesaurus:model
- c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, , page 27:
- This is a poore Epitome of yours, / Which by th'interpretation of full time, / May ſhew like all your ſelfe.
- 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
- But first I took up Ayesha's kirtle and the gauzy scarf with which she had been wont to hide her dazzling loveliness from the eyes of men, and, averting my head so that I might not look upon it, covered up that dreadful relic of the glorious dead, that shocking epitome of human beauty and human life.
- A representative example.
- Synonyms: quintessential, poster child; see also Thesaurus:exemplar
- 1988, “Don't Believe the Hype”, in It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, performed by Public Enemy:
- The minute they see me, fear me / I'm the epitome of "public enemy"
- The height; the best; the most vivid.
- 1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVI, in Romance and Reality. , volume II, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, , →OCLC, page 240:
- He looks the very epitome of fright: I do not think he could eat one of those apples, if it were given him.
- A brief summary of a text.
- 1611, Thomas Coryate, Coryat's Crudities hastily gobbled up in Five Months Travels in France, Italy, &c:
- Having now so amply declared unto thee most of the principal things of this thrice-renowned and illustrious city, I will briefly by way of an epitome mention most of the other particulars thereof, and so finally shut up this narration: there are reported to be in Venice and the circumjacent islands two hundred churches in which are one hundred forth-three pairs of organs, fifty-four monasteries, twenty-six nunneries, fifty-six tribunals or places of judgment, seventeen hospitals, six companies or fraternities, whereof I have before spoken; one hundred and sixty-five marble statues of worthy personages, partly equestrial, partly pedestrial, which are erected in sundry places of the city, to the honour of those that either at home have prudently administered the commonweal, or abroad valiantly fought for the same.
Usage notes
The sense “the height, the best” is considered incorrect by some; instead, pinnacle may be preferred.
Antonyms
Derived terms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
embodiment or encapsulation of
|
representative example
|
the height; the best
summary
|
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Further reading
epitome on Wikipedia.Wikipedia - “epitome”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “epitome”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Italian
Noun
epitome f (plural epitomi)
Latin
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἐπιτομή (epitomḗ), from ἐπιτέμνω (epitémnō), from ἐπί (epí) + τέμνω (témnō, “to cut”).
Pronunciation
Noun
epitomē f (genitive epitomēs); first declension
Declension
First-declension noun (Greek-type).
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | epitomē | epitomae |
| Genitive | epitomēs | epitomārum |
| Dative | epitomae | epitomīs |
| Accusative | epitomēn | epitomās |
| Ablative | epitomē | epitomīs |
| Vocative | epitomē | epitomae |
Descendants
References
- “epitome”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- “epitome”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- epitome in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
- “epitome”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
- epitome in Ramminger, Johann (2016 July 16 (last accessed)) Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, pre-publication website, 2005-2016
Maltese
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian epitome.
Pronunciation
Noun
epitome f (plural epitomi)
Related terms
Spanish
Verb
epitome
- inflection of epitomar: