epitaph

CEFRC2

/ˈɛp.ɪˌtɑːf/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    Words written on a gravestone in memory of someone.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A poem or other short text written in memory of a deceased person.

Examples

  • The epitaph engraved on the headstone was a meaningful, succinct poem.

  • The epitaph was written in Berber.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. To write or speak after the manner of an epitaph.

  2. An inscription on a gravestone in memory of the deceased.

verb

Extra meaning

  1. To commemorate by an epitaph.

More examples

In context

  • Let me rather be epitaphed the inventor of the English Hexameter.

  • The Commons in their speeches epitaph upon him […] "He lived as a wolf and died as a dog."

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The simple blank on his grave read 'Beloved father and friend.'

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Old French epitafe, from Late Latin epitaphium (“eulogy”), from Ancient Greek ἐπιτάφιος (epitáphios, “relating to a funeral”), from ἐπί (epí, “over”) + τάφος (táphos, “tomb”). By surface analysis epi- + -taph.