epitomise etymology

Etymology

• Latin: epitomare, "To epitomize"
• Greek: ἐπιτεμνεῖν (epitemnein), "To cut into"

Meaning

To epitomize means:

• To be a perfect example of a particular quality or characteristic
• To summarize or condense a larger work into a shorter form that captures its essence

Origin

The word "epitomize" comes from the Greek verb ἐπιτεμνεῖν (epitemnein), which means "to cut into." Originally, it was used to describe a surgical procedure in which a surgeon would make a small incision to access an internal organ. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include the idea of summarizing or condensing a larger work into a shorter form.

In the 16th century, the English word "epitomize" was borrowed from the Latin word epitomare, which had a similar meaning. The word "epitomize" first appeared in English in 1579, and it has been in common use ever since.

epitomise relate terms

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