epi-

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a prefix occurring in loanwords from Greek, where it meant “upon,” “on,” “over,” “near,” “at,” “before,” “after” (epicedium; epidermis; epigene; epitome); on this model, used in the formation of new compound words (epicardium; epinephrine).

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Also ep-, eph-.

Origin of epi-

<Greek, prefixal use of epí, preposition and adv.

Words nearby epi-

ephod, ephor, Ephraim, Ephraimite, Ephrata, epi-, epibenthos, epibiosis, epibiotic, epiblast, epiblem

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use epi- in a sentence

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) tracks this closely, so here (pdf) for your review is a study the group put out in June.
The Real Reason Democrats Lost|Michael Tomasky|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
EPI had much more to say on the subject in an excellent report issued last month.
A Secret the Republicans Know But Will Never Admit|Michael Tomasky|June 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Geithner has been at the epi-center of the decision-making as the credit bubble was inflating and as it burst.
The Man Who Saw the Crisis Coming|William D. Cohan|November 17, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Sometimes the term is incorrectly applied to a small pinnacle of which it is only the termination (see Epi).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 3|Various

Half a dozen had had a turn at you, and that lovely epi—what-you-may-call-it of yours was hanging upon you in rags.
King of the Castle|George Manville Fenn
Epi mentoi tais pepsesi sympeplrmenais anekto men ho pylros, h gastr de peristaltiks ekineito paraplsis tois enterois.
On the Natural Faculties|Galen
All' hoson ta memasmena toutn epi pleon lloitai, tosouton ekeinn ta katapothenta.
On the Natural Faculties|Galen
Hout men epi tn mtrn enargs hai dyo phainontai dynameis, epi de ts gastros hde.
On the Natural Faculties|Galen

British Dictionary definitions for epi-

epi-

eph- or before a vowel ep-

prefix

on; upon; above; overepidermis; epicentre

in addition toepiphenomenon

afterepigenesis; epilogue

near; close toepicalyx

Word Origin for epi-

from Greek, from epi (prep)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012