Epitome

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ɪˈpɪt.É™.mi/

Origin

From Middle French, from Latin epitome, epitoma, from Ancient Greek ἐπιτομή (epitomē, "an abridgment, also a surface-incision"), from ἐπιτέμνω (epitemnō, "I cut upon the surface, cut short, abridge"), from ἐπί + τέμνω (temnō, "to cut").

Noun

1. (of a class of items) The embodiment or encapsulation of.
2. (of a class of items) A representative example.
3. (of a class of items) The height; the best.
4. (of a written document) A brief summary.

Usage notes

The sense ‘the height, the best’ is considered incorrect by some.

Synonyms

• (an embodiment of) in a nutshell (modern idiom), synopsis
• (the best) greatest
• (a summary) abstract, synopsis

Antonyms

• antithesis

Derived terms

• epitomize
• epitomic
• epitomical

Related terms

• epitomator
• epitomist
• epitomizer