epic

[ep-ik]

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style.

   Homer's Iliad is an epic poem.

2. resembling or suggesting such poetry.

   an epic novel on the founding of the country.

3. heroic; majestic; impressively great.

   the epic events of the war.

4. of unusually great size or extent.

   a crime wave of epic proportions.

5. Slang.,  very impressive; spectacular; awesome.

   Their burgers and fries are epic!

adverb

1. Slang.,  very; extremely.

   That's an epic cool video!

noun

1. an epic poem.

2. epic poetry.

3. any composition resembling an epic.

4. something worthy to form the subject of an epic.

   The defense of the Alamo is an American epic.

5. Also called Old Ionic. Epic. the Greek dialect represented in the Iliad and the Odyssey, apparently Aeolic modified by Ionic.

epic

/ ˈɛpɪk /

noun

1. a long narrative poem recounting in elevated style the deeds of a legendary hero, esp one originating in oral folk tradition

2. the genre of epic poetry

3. any work of literature, film, etc, having heroic deeds for its subject matter or having other qualities associated with the epic

   a Hollywood epic

4. an episode in the lives of men in which heroic deeds are performed or attempted

   the epic of Scott's expedition to the South Pole

adjective

1. denoting, relating to, or characteristic of an epic or epics

2. of heroic or impressive proportions

   an epic voyage

epic

1. A long narrative poem written in elevated style, in which heroes of great historical or legendary importance perform valorous deeds. The setting is vast in scope, covering great nations, the world, or the universe, and the action is important to the history of a nation or people. The Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid are some great epics from world literature, and two great epics in English are Beowulf and Paradise Lost.

Figuratively, any task of great magnitude may be called “epic,” as in an “epic feat” or an “epic undertaking.”

Other Word Forms

• epically adverb
• epiclike adjective
• nonepic adjective
• nonepical adjective
• semiepic adjective
• semiepical adjective
• superepic adjective
• unepic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epic¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin epicus, from Greek epikós; epos, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of epic¹

C16: from Latin epicus, from Greek epikos, from epos speech, word, song

Example Sentences

Krasznahorkai is "a great epic writer in the Central European tradition that extends through Kafka to Thomas Bernhard, and is characterised by absurdism and grotesque excess," the Academy said.

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To answer these questions, it’s helpful for all Americans, left and right, to remind ourselves of the basic outlines of our people’s epic story.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Ms. Case’s lyrics are so vivid and well-rendered you feel like they could just as easily be transformed into epic poems, personal essays, or chapters in a book.

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It makes for an epic of extraordinary abundance, one that occupies an uncharted border region of history and supernatural invention.

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The news also added to gold’s epic run this year, with a further 2.6% jump Monday and Tuesday.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• legend 
• narrative 
• tale