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epitaph
epitaph strictly, an inscription on a tomb; by extension, a statement, usually in verse, commemorating the dead. The earliest such inscriptions are those found on Egyptian sarcophagi. In England epitaphs did not begin to assume a literary character until the time of Elizabeth I. Ben Jonson, John Milton, Alexander Pope, and Samuel Johnson were considered masters of the art. The epitaph on Ben Jonson's own tomb in Westminster Abbey was splendidly brief: "O rare Ben Jonson!" Epitaphs are often humorous. It is not known whether the epitaph printed below is amusing by design or by accident: Here lie I Martin Elginbrodde: Have mercy on my soul, Lord God, As I wad do, were I Lord God, And ye were Martin Elginbrodde. |
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"epitaph." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "epitaph." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-epitaph.html "epitaph." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-epitaph.html |
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epitaph
epitaph a phrase or form of words written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone. The word is recorded from late Middle English, and comes via Old French and Latin from Greek epitaphion ‘funeral oration’.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "epitaph." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "epitaph." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-epitaph.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "epitaph." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-epitaph.html |
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epitaph
ep·i·taph / ˈepiˌtaf/ • n. a phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died, esp. as an inscription on a tombstone. |
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"epitaph." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "epitaph." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-epitaph.html "epitaph." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-epitaph.html |
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epitaph
epitaph XIV. — (O)F. épitaphe — L. epitaphium funeral oration — Gr. epitáphion, f. EPI- + táphos obsequies, tomb.
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T. F. HOAD. "epitaph." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "epitaph." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-epitaph.html T. F. HOAD. "epitaph." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-epitaph.html |
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epitaph
epitaph. Inscription on a funerary monument, tombstone, etc.
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "epitaph." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "epitaph." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-epitaph.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "epitaph." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-epitaph.html |
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epitaph
epitaph
•barf, behalf, calf, chaff, coif, giraffe, Graf, graph, half, laugh, scarf, scrum half, staff, strafe, wing half
•headscarf • mooncalf • bar graph
•telegraph • polygraph • epigraph
•serigraph • cardiograph • radiograph
•spectrograph • micrograph
•lithograph • heliograph
•choreograph • tachograph
•stylograph • holograph • seismograph
•chronograph, monograph
•phonograph • paragraph
•cinematograph • pictograph
•autograph • photograph • flagstaff
•jackstaff • distaff • tipstaff • epitaph
•pikestaff • cenotaph
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"epitaph." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "epitaph." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-epitaph.html "epitaph." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-epitaph.html |
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