epigraph
Americannoun
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an inscription, especially on a building, statue, or the like.
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an apposite quotation at the beginning of a book, chapter, etc.
noun
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a quotation at the beginning of a book, chapter, etc, suggesting its theme
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an inscription on a monument or building
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of epigraph
First recorded in 1615–25, epigraph is from the Greek word epigraphḗ inscription. See epi-, -graph
Explanation
An epigraph is an engraved inscription on a building or statue, or a quotation at the beginning of a piece of writing. If you look on the U.S. government minted coins in your pocket, you'll see the epigraph "In God We Trust." Epigraph comes from the Greek roots epi- ("on") and graphein ("write"), a root you'll recognize from autograph, graphite, graphic novel, and lots of other familiar words that have to do with writing or drawing.
Vocabulary lists containing epigraph
Write On!: Graph and Gram
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Rhetoric
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Reading: Literature - Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It bears this Epigraph, "Ecce Ego admirationem faciam populo huic, miraculo grandi et stupendo."
From Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 1 by Disraeli, Isaac
Epigraph, ep′i-graf, n. an inscription, esp. on a building: a citation or motto at the commencement of a book or its parts.—v.t. to provide with an epigraph.—ns.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
