epitome

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ɛˈpɪ.tɔ.meː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eˈpiː.to.me]^[1]

Forms

epitomē f (genitive epitomēs); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἐπιτομή (epitomḗ, “abridgement”), from ἐπιτέμνω (epitémnō, “to cut short”), from ἐπί (epí) and τέμνω (témnō, “to cut”).^[2][1] Cicero also has a Latinised form epitoma.^[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero, in letters to Atticus, mentions Brutus' abridgement of Caelius' history.^[4][3] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It was an abridgement or summary of a literary work.^[2] Columella says that the whole of Dionysius, spread over many volumes, was reduced to six epitomes, and Ausonius speaks of compressing a poem into an epitome.^[4] Jerome writes the word in Greek letters.^[6]

In medieval Latin it was a synopsis or compendium, sub epitome meaning “briefly”, and also a mention in praise.^[7][8] English epitome came through French in the 1520s for an abstract of a writing.^[9]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero mentions an epitome of Caelius.^[4][5]
• 1st century AD – Columella mentions six epitomes of Dionysius.^[4][5]
• 1520s – English epitome is recorded.^[9]

Meanings

Noun

1. An abridgement, epitome, summary.^[2][1]
2. (Medieval Latin) Praise, a laudatory mention.^[7]

Word family

• epitomō

Related words

• English epitome

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
7. ^ a b Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
8. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
9. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com