epi-, ep-
(Greek: above, over, on, upon; besides; in addition to; toward; among)
2. Related to anything that is written in the form of a series of letters: Messages have have been written in an epistolary style for centuries.
3. Etymology: it appeared in English four centuries after "epistle" and can be used to describe something related to or contained in an envelope by mail or messenger; as in, "epistolary greetings" or composed of letters; as in, "an epistolary story".
This term of epistolary came from the noun "epistle" which refers to "a composition written in the form of a letter to a particular person or group."
In its original sense, "epistle" referred to one of the 21 letters; such as, those from the apostle Paul which are found in the New Testament Bible.
Dating from the 13th century, epistle came into English by way of Anglo-French and Latin from the Greek noun epistol-, meaning "message" or "letter."
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2. A short speech or piece of writing celebrating the life of a recently deceased person: "The politician was asked to read the epitaph that the newspaper editor had written honoring the local city mayor who had died last week."
"An elegy is also known as a commemoration or a memoir for someone who has passed on."
"Sometimes an epitaph is a monumental lie."
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2. Sometimes a disparaging name: An "egghead" is an epithet for someone who is an intellectual.
Strictly speaking, an epithet is not necessarily a derogatory term, but it is commonly used as a simple synonym for some term of abuse or slur; such as, there is no place for racial epithets on the radio or TV programs.
3. Etymology: from epitithenai, "to add on"; from epi-, "in addition" + tithenai, "to put".
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2. The embodiment or summation of certain qualities: Henry is the epitome of strength because he works out at the fitness studio as often as possible.
3. A person or thing which is representative of or typical of the characteristics or general quality of a whole class or group: Ted's car was once the epitome of low cost transportation.
4. Etymology: from Greek epitome, "abridgement"; from Latin epitome, "to cut short, to cut down, or to cut into".
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The doctor epitomized his patient's physical illness as being healable, and healthy again in two weeks.
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Related "above, over, beyond the normal, excessive" word units: hyper-; super-, supra-, sur; ultra-, ult-.