Where does “epitaph” come from?
Epitaph comes from Old French epitafe, from Latin epitaphium, from Ancient Greek ἐπιτάφιος, combining ἐπί (upon) with θάπτω (to bury), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁eps.
epitaph (English): An inscription on a gravestone in memory of the...
Definitions
- An inscription on a gravestone in memory of the...
Ancestry of “epitaph”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | epitafe | epitaph |
| 2 | Latin | epitaphium | eulogy; funeral oration |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἐπιτάφιος | over or at a tomb, funereal |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἐπι- | on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἐπί | as well, besides; For usage in composition, see... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Ἡμέρα | — |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἦμαρ | day; by day; midday |
| 8 | Proto-Hellenic | ā́mər | day |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃mr̥ | heat |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃- | to be hot; to burn |