epitome

C2+ Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ɪˈpɪtəmi/ UK /ɪˈpɪtəmi/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a perfect example or embodiment of a quality or type

She was the epitome of grace under pressure.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a perfect example or... embodiment quintessence exemplar essence personification archetype paragon

Word family

Derived forms epitomizeepitomicepitomical

Related forms epitomize

Etymology

From Latin epitome ('abridgment'), from Ancient Greek epitomḗ ('a cutting short, abridgment'), from epitémnein ('to cut short'), from epi- ('into') + témnein ('to cut').

epitome Latin ἐπιτομή Ancient Greek τέμνειν Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# epitome

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ɪˈpɪtəmi/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪˈpɪtəmi/

## Meanings
1. a perfect example or embodiment of a quality or type

## Examples
- She was the epitome of grace under pressure.

## Synonyms
- embodiment
- quintessence
- exemplar
- essence
- personification
- archetype
- paragon

## Derived Forms
- epitomize
- epitomic
- epitomical

## Related Forms
- epitomize

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: epitome
- Root: ἐπιτομή
- Root: τέμνειν

## Etymology
From Latin epitome ('abridgment'), from Ancient Greek epitomḗ ('a cutting short, abridgment'), from epitémnein ('to cut short'), from epi- ('into') + témnein ('to cut').

## AI Etymology
Epitome comes from Latin epitome ('abridgment'), from Ancient Greek epitomḗ ('a cutting short, abridgment'), from epitémnein ('to cut short'), from epi- ('into') + témnein ('to cut'). The historical trail runs through Latin epitome, Ancient Greek ἐπιτομή and Ancient Greek τέμνειν. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means a perfect example or embodiment of a quality or type. Derived formations include epitomize, epitomic, epitomical; related forms include epitomize.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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