epic

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈep.ɪk/ UK /ˈɛp.ɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #6793

Meanings

1

adj
constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic

Epic tradition.
2

noun
An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a deity, demigod (heroic epic), other legend or traditional hero.

The Icelandic epic took all night to recite.
3

noun
A series of events considered appropriate to an epic; any work of literature, film, etc. having heroic deeds and adventures as its subject matter.

The book was an epic in four volumes.
4

noun
A large or extended user story.

Epics are shown in a separate list from user stories. This is because it is the user stories that are developed, not epics. Epics are decomposed into child user stories.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · constituting or having to... epical

2 noun · an extended narrative poem... epopeeepos

Word family

Forms epical

Derived forms antiepicepicallyepicismepicistepiclikeepicnessepicosityminiepicnonepicsuperepicunepic

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

epic poetry
long narrative poetry about heroic deeds and major events

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle French épique, from Latin epicus, from Ancient Greek ἐπικός (epikós), from ἔπος (épos, “word, story”).

Topics

Describing Qualities Literature & Storytelling Register & Style

External links

# epic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈep.ɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɛp.ɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 6793

## Meanings
1. constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic
2. An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a deity, demigod (heroic epic), other legend or traditional hero.
3. A series of events considered appropriate to an epic; any work of literature, film, etc. having heroic deeds and adventures as its subject matter.
4. A large or extended user story.

## Examples
- Epic tradition.
- The Icelandic epic took all night to recite.
- The book was an epic in four volumes.
- Epics are shown in a separate list from user stories. This is because it is the user stories that are developed, not epics. Epics are decomposed into child user stories.

## Derived Forms
- antiepic
- epically
- epicism
- epicist
- epiclike
- epicness
- epicosity
- miniepic
- nonepic
- superepic
- unepic

## Etymology
From Middle French épique, from Latin epicus, from Ancient Greek ἐπικός (epikós), from ἔπος (épos, “word, story”).

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Literature & Storytelling
- Register & Style

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