epigram

American  

[ep-i-gram] / ˈɛp ɪˌgræm /

noun

1. any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed.

   Synonyms:

   bon mot, quip, witticism

2. epigrammatic expression.

   Oscar Wilde had a genius for epigram.

3. a short, often satirical poem dealing concisely with a single subject and usually ending with a witty or ingenious turn of thought.

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epigram British  

/ ˈɛpɪˌɡræm /

noun

1. a witty, often paradoxical remark, concisely expressed

2. a short, pungent, and often satirical poem, esp one having a witty and ingenious ending

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epigram Cultural  

1. Any pithy, witty saying or short poem. An aphorism can serve as an epigram, if it is brief.

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Discover More

Two other words are similar: an epigraph is usually an inscription, as on a statue; an epitaph can be such an inscription or it can be a brief literary note commemorating a dead person.

Several authors are noted for their epigrams, including Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde. One of Wilde's epigrams is “I can resist everything except temptation.”

Other Word Forms

• epigrammatic adjective
• epigrammatically adverb

Etymology

Origin of epigram

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin epigramma < Greek epígramma inscription, epigram. See epi-, -gram ¹

Explanation

An epigram is a short, clever remark. One of Oscar Wilde's many memorable epigrams is "I can resist everything but temptation." Epigram comes from the Latin word epigramma, which means "an inscription." If you've ever seen an inscription on, say, the back of a watch, you know the writing has to be brief. It won't surprise you, then, that epigrams are very short poems, sayings, or famous quotations, like Benjamin Franklin's "Little strokes fell great oaks," a memorable reminder to keep working toward big goals or to pay attention to little details, the opposite of an epigram from our era: "Don't sweat the small stuff."

Example Sentences

Among the manuscripts, personal notes and correspondence is the unfinished draft of the third book in the Parable series, “Parable of the Trickster,” which begins with an epigram that has been attributed to Butler herself.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 25, 2022

Mr. Marías wrote in a looping, discursive style that critics often compared to that of Henry James or Laurence Sterne, whose epigram “I progress as I digress” Mr. Marías took as a personal motto.

From New York Times • Sep. 12, 2022

That reminds me of a line from “Medea” that Alison Gaylin used as an epigram for her thriller “The Collective”: “Hate is a bottomless cup; I will pour and pour.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 21, 2021

Reading it one discovers a whole tradition of love poetry, epigram and elegy, movingly brought into English and then beautifully printed and bound by Washington’s own Mage Publishers.

From Washington Post • Oct. 23, 2019

He laughed and quoted a little Greek epigram about honesty being a dangerous virtue, and, to my surprise, opened the door and ushered me in.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Related Words

• aphorism