epigraph etymology

Etymology:

• Derived from the Greek word "epigraphē," meaning "inscription" or "superinscription."

Meaning:

• A brief quotation, phrase, or verse placed at the beginning of a literary work, chapter, or section.
• It often provides a thematic or contextual introduction to the work.

Origin:

• Epigraphs have been used in literature for centuries, dating back to ancient Greek and Roman texts.
• Writers have employed them to establish mood, foreshadow events, or provide a deeper understanding of the work.

Examples:

• "Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind." (Nathaniel Hawthorne, "The House of Seven Gables")
• "All that glitters is not gold." (William Shakespeare, "The Merchant of Venice")
• "The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers." (William Wordsworth, "The World Is Too Much with Us")

Purpose:

Epigraphs serve several purposes in literature:

• Introduction: They provide a glimpse of the work's themes, characters, or setting.
• Mood: They establish a particular atmosphere or mood for the reader.
• Foreshadowing: They hint at events or developments that will unfold later in the story.
• Context: They provide historical, cultural, or literary context for the work.
• Characterization: They offer insights into the thoughts, motivations, or experiences of characters.

epigraph relate terms

• epigram

  Etymology Derived from the Ancient Greek word ἐπίγραμμα epígramma meaning

• epigraph

  Etymology Derived from the Greek word epigraphē meaning inscription or superinsc

• pseudepigrapha

  Etymology Greek ψεῦδος pseudos false ἐπί epi on upon γραφ

• pseudo

  Pseudo Etymology Meaning A false or unscientific explanation of the origin or history of

• epigraph

  Etymology Derived from the Greek word epigraphē meaning inscription or superinsc

• citation

  Etymology The word citation originates from the Latin word citare which means to ca

• quotation

  Etymology The word quotation is derived from the Latin verb quoto meaning to mark

• quote

  Etymology The word quote originates from the Latin verb cotare which means to mark

• fiasco

  Etymology The word fiasco comes from the Italian word fiasco which originally refer

• sustain

  Etymology Latin sustinēre to hold up sustain endure Proto Indo European steh₂

• melancholy

  Etymology The word melancholy originates from the Greek words melas black and khol

• prayer

  Etymology The word prayer comes from the Middle English word preiere which in turn d

• source

  Etymology The word source derives from the Old French word source which in turn come

• Jupiter

  Etymology The name Jupiter derives from the Latin language where it was originally kno

• fantasy

  Etymology The word fantasy is derived from the Greek word phantasia which means ap