epitome

[ ih-pit-uh-mee ]
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noun
  1. a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class: He is the epitome of goodness.

  2. a condensed account, especially of a literary work; abstract.

Origin of epitome

1
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin epitomē “abridgment,” from Greek epitomḗ “abridgment, surface incision,” equivalent to epi- + -tome

Other words for epitome

Other words from epitome

  • ep·i·tom·i·cal [ep-i-tom-i-kuhl], /ˌɛp ɪˈtɒm ɪ kəl/, ep·i·tom·ic, adjective

Words Nearby epitome

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How to use epitome in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for epitome

epitome

/ (ɪˈpɪtəmɪ) /


noun
  1. a typical example of a characteristic or class; embodiment; personification: he is the epitome of sloth

  2. a summary of a written work; abstract

Origin of epitome

1
C16: via Latin from Greek epitomē, from epitemnein to abridge, from epi- + temnein to cut

Derived forms of epitome

  • epitomical (ˌɛpɪˈtɒmɪkəl) or epitomic, adjective

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