World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesEpigraph
/ˈɛpɪɡrɑːf/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A quotation or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter, intended to suggest its theme.
"The novel began with an epigraph from Shakespeare that set the tone for the story." - 2
An inscription on a building, statue, or coin.
"The museum featured an epigraph that commemorated the founding of the city."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
The term 'epigraph' originates from the Greek word 'epigraphe', meaning 'inscription'. It was adopted into English in the early 19th century, reflecting a shift from its original use in describing inscriptions on monuments to its broader application in literary contexts.
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10 Global Lexicons: How "Epigraph" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
épigraphe
Transliteration: epigraf
"Le livre commence par une épigraphe de Victor Hugo."
Epitaph
Transliteration: epitaf
"Das Buch beginnt mit einem Epitaph von Goethe."
epigrafe
Transliteration: epigrafe
"Il romanzo inizia con un'epigrafe di Dante."
epígrafe
Transliteration: epigrafe
"El libro comienza con un epígrafe de Cervantes."
epígrafe
Transliteration: epigrafe
"O livro começa com uma epígrafe de Fernando Pessoa."
उपशीरष्क
Transliteration: upashirshak
"किताब की शुरुआत एक उपशीरष्क से होती है।"
题词
Transliteration: tí cí
"这本书以一句题词开始。"
서문
Transliteration: seomun
"책은 한 구절의 서문으로 시작합니다."
銘文
Transliteration: meibun
"その本は銘文から始まります。"
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