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epitome

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epitome

  • /əˈpɪt.ə.mi/ UK
  • /ɪˈpɪt.ə.mi/ UK
  • /ˈɛpɪtəʊm/ UK
  • /ɪˈpɪt.ə.mi/ Canada, US
  • [ɪˈpɪɾ.ə.mi] Canada, US
  • /iˈpɪt.ə.mi/ Canada, US
  • [iˈpɪɾ.ə.mi] Canada, US
  • /əˈpɪt.ə.mi/ Canada, US
  • [əˈpɪɾ.ə.mi] Canada, US
  • /ɪˈpɪt.ə.mi/ Australia
  • [ɪˈpɪɾ.ə.mi] Australia
  • /əˈpɪt.ə.mi/ Australia
  • [əˈpɪɾ.ə.mi] Australia
  • /ˈɛ.pɪ.ʈə.mi/ South Asia
  • /ˌɛ.pɪˌʈom/ South Asia

Where it comes from

From Middle French, from Latin epitomē, from Ancient Greek ἐπιτομή (epitomḗ, “an abridgment, also a surface-incision”), from ἐπιτέμνω (epitémnō, “to cut upon the surface, cut short, abridge”), from ἐπι- (epi-, “up”) + τέμνω (témnō, “to cut”).

noun epitomes · epitomai

  1. The embodiment or encapsulation of a class of items. This is a poore Epitome of yours, / Which by th'interpretation of full time, / May ſhew like all your ſelfe.

    Similar: exemplar, model, type, archetype, byspel, case, beau ideal, case in point, embodiment, epitome, eponym, exemplification

  2. A representative example. The minute they see me, fear me / I'm the epitome of "public enemy"

    Similar: quintessential, poster child, archetype, byspel, case, beau ideal, case in point, embodiment, epitome, eponym, exemplar, exemplification

  3. The height; the best; the most vivid. He looks the very epitome of fright: I do not think he could eat one of those apples, if it were given him.

    Similar: acme, greatest

  4. A brief summary of a text. Having now so amply declared unto thee most of the principal things of this thrice-renowned and illustrious city, I will briefly by way of an epitome mention most of the other particulars thereof, and so finally shut up this narration: there are reported to be in Venice and the circumjacent islands

    Similar: abstract, synopsis

Opposite: antithesis

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: paradigm, prototype, image, example, archetype, quintessence, abstract, essence, embodiment, summary, symbol, model, miniature, microcosm, petrol, gasoline

noun

Opposite: antithesis

Translations

Every language

noun embodiment or encapsulation of

Españolepítome
日本語縮図 shukuzu
中文縮影 /缩影 suōyǐng
Portuguêsepítome
Françaisrésumé, épitomé
DeutschVerkörperlichung
Italianoepitome
Ελληνικάεπιτομή epitomí
Русскийвоплоще́ние voploščénije, олицетворе́ние olicetvorénije
العربيةمَثَال maṯāl
עבריתתמצית tamtsot

noun representative example

Españolpersonificación, encarnación
Françaispersonnification, incarnation
Italianopersonificazione, incarnazione
Românăpersonificare
Русскийобразец obrazec

noun the height; the best

Italianoapice
Русскийэталон etalon

noun summary

Españolepítome, resumen, sinopsis
Portuguêsepítome
Françaisrésumé, abrégé
DeutschAbriss
Italianocompendio, sommario, sunto, sinossi, epitome
Ελληνικάεπιτομή epitomí
Русскийконспе́кт konspékt, кра́ткое изложе́ние krátkoje izložénije, резюме́ rezjumɛ́

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Cite this
MLA

"epitome." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/epitome. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

epitome. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/epitome

Chicago

"epitome." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/epitome.

BibTeX
@misc{epitome_2026,
  title = {epitome},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/epitome},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}