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épique

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Etymology and origin of the French word épique

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1600 late 16th or early 17th century, d'Aubigné More words from the 16th century
Borrowed from
Latin epicus
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek ἔπος
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin epicus
English epic
French épique

Pronunciation

Forms

épique (plural épiques)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin epicus (“epic”),[2][3][4][5] from Ancient Greek ἐπικός (epikós, “of epic poetry”), derived from ἔπος (épos, “word, speech, verse”).[3][6][1] Wiktionary takes the French word directly from the Greek.[1] It is related to épopée.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded at the end of the 16th or the start of the 17th century in the phrase poëmes épiques “epic poems”, in d'Aubigné's letters on various sciences.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

In the 17th century it gradually took the place of héroïque for what belongs to epic poetry.[3][5] The figurative sense “worthy of an epic” dates from 1835, when Hugo wrote of les grenadiers épiques;[4][3][6] the ironic use for something memorable or eventful follows in 1847 (Baudelaire),[3][6] and in 1835 the Académie also used it ironically of an overblown, grandiloquent style.[6] The adverb épiquement (1811) is rare.[2][3] Today the word is also a colloquial term of praise for anything extraordinary.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 1600 – d'Aubigné writes of poëmes épiques.[2][4]
  • 17th century – It gradually replaces héroïque in this sense.[3][5]
  • 1811 – The adverb épiquement is recorded.[2][3]
  • 1835 – Hugo uses it figuratively; the Académie records an ironic use.[4][6]
  • 1847 – Baudelaire uses it for something memorable.[3][6]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Telling a heroic action in verse; relating to or typical of epic poetry: poème épique, style épique.[7][2][6]
  2. Worthy of an epic; of the scale of epic heroes or subjects.[7][3]
  3. (familiar, often ironic) Eventful, full of incidents: le déménagement a été épique.[7][3]
  4. (colloquial) Extraordinary, amazing.[1]

Word family

  • épiquement
  • épopée
  • héroïque

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Épique.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/%C3%A9pique. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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