epicus Latin · revision 7637

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=Cicero|origins=grc ἔπος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɛ.pɪ.kʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɛː.pi.kus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''epicus''' (feminine epica, neuter epicum); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|ἐπικός|tr=epikós|t=epic]], from [[m|grc|ἔπος|tr=épos|t=word, tale, epic verse]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Cicero calls Ennius an ''epicus poēta''.^(Köbler 2010)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant epic, of heroic poetry, as Cicero's ''epicus poēta'' and ''poēma'', and Quintilian's ''carmen''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) As a masculine plural noun it meant the epic poets, as in Quintilian.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+

+ It was borrowed into Italian as ''epico'' and French ''épique'', and through French or directly it gave [[en|epic]] in the 1580s.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of Ennius.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of the epic poets.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1580s – English ''epic'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|Epic]]; as a plural noun, the epic poets.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[en|epic]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}