epitaph English · revision 1409

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1338}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɛp.ɪˌtɑːf/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɛp.ɪˌtæf/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|epitaphe]], [[m|enm|epitaf]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|fro|epitaphe]], [[la-med|epitaphium]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[la|epitaphium|t=funeral oration, eulogy]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from [[grc|ἐπιτάφιον|tr=epitáphion|t=funeral oration]], neuter of [[m|grc|ἐπιτάφιος|tr=epitáphios|t=at a tomb or funeral]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from [[m|grc|ἐπί|tr=epí|t=at, over]] (see [[epi-]]) and [[m|grc|τάφος|tr=táphos|t=tomb, funeral]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) The Greek noun is related to [[m|grc|θάπτειν|tr=tháptein|t=to bury]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Partridge 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An inscription on a tomb (before 1338 in Barnhart; 1387 in the OED; mid-14th century in Etymonline).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Greek word meant words spoken at a funeral;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995) in English it came to mean what is written on a tomb.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) It was also occasionally a short composition describing the dead person, written as if to be inscribed.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU) Figuratively it is a brief statement summing up something past (1847),^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) or a final judgment on a person or thing.^(Collins 2023) The verb, to write an epitaph on, is from 1592.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1338 – ''epitaf'', a tomb inscription.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1387 – first quotation in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1592 – verb, to write an epitaph on.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1847 – figurative use.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[inscription]] on a [[tombstone]] or monument in memory of the person buried there.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A short poem or other writing in praise or memory of a dead person.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A brief statement summing up something past; a final judgment.^(MW Collegiate)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To commemorate in an epitaph.^(RHWU)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[epitaphic]]

+ * [[epitaphial]]

+ * [[epitaphist]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cenotaph]]

+ * [[epitome]]

+ * [[eulogy]]

+ * [[elegy]]

+ * [[obituary]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}