Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “epitome” come from?

Epitome comes from Latin epitome, from Ancient Greek ἐπιτομή, derived from ἐπιτέμνω meaning to cut short, from τέμνω meaning to cut, with ἐπί meaning upon combined with Proto-Indo-European h₁epi and h₁eps.

epitome (English): The embodiment or encapsulation of a class of...

Definitions

  1. The embodiment or encapsulation of a class of...

Ancestry of “epitome”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinepitomeepitome, abridgement, synopsis
2Ancient Greekἐπιτομήa cutting on the surface, incision; epitome,...
3Ancient Greekἐπιτέμνωto cut upon the surface, make an incision, gash;...
4Ancient Greekἐπι-on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,...
5Ancient Greekἐπίas well, besides; For usage in composition, see...
6Ancient GreekἩμέρα—
7Ancient Greekἦμαρday; by day; midday
8Proto-Hellenicā́mər—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃mr̥heat
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃-to be hot; to burn

Words derived from “epitome”

  • epitomize
  • epitomizer
  • epitomic
  • epitomist
  • epitomical
  • epitomal
  • epitomistic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- →