Epigram

Epigram
Epigram Ep"i*gram, n. [L. epigramma, fr. Gr. ? inscription, epigram, fr. ? to write upon, 'epi` upon + ? to write: cf. F. ['e]pigramme. See {Graphic}.] 1. A short poem treating concisely and pointedly of a single thought or event. The modern epigram is so contrived as to surprise the reader with a witticism or ingenious turn of thought, and is often satirical in character. [1913 Webster]

Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram? --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Note: Epigrams were originally inscription on tombs, statues, temples, triumphal arches, etc. [1913 Webster]

2. An effusion of wit; a bright thought tersely and sharply expressed, whether in verse or prose. [1913 Webster]

3. The style of the epigram. [1913 Webster]

Antithesis, i. e., bilateral stroke, is the soul of epigram in its later and technical signification. --B. Cracroft.


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • epigram — [ep′ə gram΄] n. [ME < OFr epigramme < L epigramma < Gr, inscription, epigram < epigraphein < epi , upon + graphein, to write: see GRAPHIC] 1. a short poem with a witty or satirical point 2. any terse, witty, pointed statement,… …   English World dictionary

  • epigram — (n.) mid 15c., from M.Fr. épigramme, from L. epigramma an inscription, from Gk. epigramma an inscription, epitaph, epigram, from epigraphein to write on, inscribe (see EPIGRAPH (Cf. epigraph)). Related: Epigrammatist …   Etymology dictionary

  • epigram — epigram, epigraph Both words come from the same Greek roots meaning ‘to write (or written) on’. Epigram is slightly earlier (16c) and has two principal meanings in current use, (1) a short poem with a witty or ingenious ending, and (2) a terse or …   Modern English usage

  • epìgram — m knjiž. 1. {{001f}}u staroj Grčkoj, pjesnički natpis na javnim zgradama i na drugim javnim mjestima 2. {{001f}}kasnije, pjesma, ob. u elegijskom distihu, često političkog ili didaktičkog sadržaja, sa satiričnim prizvukom ili obratom ✧… …   Veliki rječnik hrvatskoga jezika

  • epigram — epìgram m DEFINICIJA knjiž. 1. u staroj Grčkoj, pjesnički natpis na javnim zgradama i na drugim javnim mjestima 2. kasnije, pjesma, ob. u elegijskom distihu, često političkog ili didaktičkog sadržaja, sa satiričnim prizvukom ili obratom… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • epigram — aphorism, apothegm, *saying, saw, maxim, adage, proverb, motto …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • epigram — [n] witticism aphorism, bon mot, joke, motto, pithy saying, quip, quirk; concept 278 …   New thesaurus

  • epigram — {{/stl 13}}{{stl 8}}rz. mnż I, D. u, Mc. epigrammie, {{/stl 8}}{{stl 7}}to samo co epigramat. {{/stl 7}} …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • epigram — ► NOUN 1) a concise and witty saying or remark. 2) a short witty poem. DERIVATIVES epigrammatic adjective. ORIGIN Greek epigramma, from gramma writing …   English terms dictionary

  • Epigram — An epigram is a short poem, often with a clever twist at the end or a concise and witty statement. Derived from the Greek epi gramma , or written upon , the literary device has been employed for over two millennia.The Greek tradition of epigrams… …   Wikipedia

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