See Also: epitaph(dictionary)
epitaph(encyclopedia)
epitaph(dictionary)

epitaph (iou)



epitaph noun & verb. LME.
[Old & mod. French epitaphe from Latin epitaphium funeral oration from Greek epitaphion use as noun of neut. of epitaphios over or at a tomb or burial, formed as EPI- + taphos obsequies, tomb.]
A. noun. An inscription upon a tomb; a brief composition characterizing a dead person. LME.
fig.: R. W. Emerson The rolling rock leaves its scratches on the mountain..the fern and leaf their modest epitaph in the coal.
b. verb trans. Describe in an epitaph; write an epitaph about. L16.
epitapher noun (rare) L16.
epi'taphic adjective L19.
epitaphical adjective: only in L16.
epitaphize verb trans. = EPITAPH verb M19.