epitome
nounUK, US /əˈpɪt.ə.mi/ · South-Asia /ˈɛ.pɪ.ʈə.mi/
Etymology From Middle French, from Latin epitomē, from Ancient Greek ἐπιτομή (epitomḗ, “an abridgment, also a surface-incision”), from ἐπιτέμνω (epitémnō, “to cut upon the surface, cut short, abridge”), from ἐπι- (epi-, “up”) + τέμνω (témnō, “to cut”).
1
The embodiment or encapsulation of a class of items.
- This is a poore Epitome of yours, / Which by th'interpretation of full time, / May ſhew like all your ſelfe.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:
- 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.1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
2
A representative example.
- The minute they see me, fear me / I'm the epitome of "public enemy"1988, “Don't Believe the Hype”, in It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, performed by Public Enemy:
- Every single relationship in his life is transactional. That is incredibly pathetic and sad. That is the epitome of a loser.2026 July 5, @clearlyfoggy.bsky.social, Bluesky (post), archived from the original on 05 Jul 2026:
3
The height; the best; the most vivid.
- He looks the very epitome of fright: I do not think he could eat one of those apples, if it were given him.1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XVI, in Romance and Reality. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 240:
4
A brief summary of a 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.1611, Thomas Coryate, Coryat's Crudities hastily gobbled up in Five Months Travels in France, Italy, &c:
- Antonyms
- antithesis
- Derived terms
- epitomal, epitomic, epitomical, epitomist, epitomistic, epitomize, epitomous
- Related terms
- epitomator, epitomizer