epitome
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /əˈpɪt.ə.mi/
ipa: /ɪˈpɪt.ə.mi/
note: Indic
ipa: /ᵻˈpɪʈɵmi/
note: Indic
ipa: /ᵻpɪˈʈom/
Forms: form: epitomes
form: epitomai
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”).
Senses: examples: text: This is a poore Epitome of yours, / Which by th'interpretation of full time, / May ſhew like all your ſelfe.
ref: 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[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v], page 27:
text: 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.
ref: 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
synonyms: word: exemplar
word: model
word: type
word: archetype
word: byspel
word: case
word: case in point
word: embodiment
word: epitome
word: eponym
word: exemplar
word: exemplification
word: example
word: exemplificator
word: Exhibit A
word: illustration
word: incarnation
word: instance
word: prototype
word: quintessence
word: representative
word: sample
word: specimen
word: symbol
word: ur-type
word: archetype
word: epitome
word: example
word: exemplar
word: icon
word: model
word: paradigm
word: paragon
word: pattern
word: quintessence
word: template
glosses: The embodiment or encapsulation of a class of items.
examples: text: The minute they see me, fear me / I'm the epitome of "public enemy"
ref: 1988, “Don't Believe the Hype”, in It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, performed by Public Enemy:
synonyms: word: quintessential
word: poster child
word: archetype
word: byspel
word: case
word: case in point
word: embodiment
word: epitome
word: eponym
word: exemplar
word: exemplification
word: example
word: exemplificator
word: Exhibit A
word: illustration
word: incarnation
word: instance
word: prototype
word: quintessence
word: representative
word: sample
word: specimen
word: symbol
word: ur-type
glosses: A representative example.
examples: text: He looks the very epitome of fright: I do not think he could eat one of those apples, if it were given him.
ref: 1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVI, in Romance and Reality. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 240:
synonyms: acme
greatest
glosses: The height; the best; the most vivid.
examples: text: 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.
ref: 1611, Thomas Coryate, Coryat's Crudities hastily gobbled up in Five Months Travels in France, Italy, &c:
synonyms: abstract
synopsis
glosses: A brief summary of a text.
Derived terms: epitomal
epitomic
epitomical
epitomist
epitomistic
epitomize
epitomous
Related terms: epitomator
epitomizer