Definitions for epitaph
ˈɛp ɪˌtæf, -ˌtɑfepi·taph

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. epitaphnoun

   an inscription on a tombstone or monument in memory of the person buried there

2. epitaphnoun

   a summary statement of commemoration for a dead person

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. epitaphnoun

   An inscription on a gravestone in memory of the deceased.

2. epitaphnoun

   A poem or other short text written in memory of a deceased person.

3. epitaphverb

   To write or speak after the manner of an epitaph.

   The common in their speeches epitaph upon him "He lived as a wolf and died as a dog." uE00013225uE001 Bishop Hall.

4. Etymology: epitaphe, from epitaphium, from ἐπιτάφιος, from ἐπί + τάφος.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Epitaphnoun

   An inscription upon a tomb.

   Etymology: ἐπιτάφιο.

   Live still, and write mine epitaph. William Shakespeare.

   Some thy lov’d dust in Parian stones enshrine,
   Others immortal epitaphs design;
   With wit, and strength, that only yields to thine Smith.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Epitaph

   Epitaph is the third track on British progressive rock band King Crimson's 1969 album In the Court of the Crimson King. It was written by Robert Fripp, Ian McDonald, Greg Lake, and Michael Giles with lyrics written by Peter Sinfield. The song is noted for its heavy use of the Mellotron, and as with the first track, "21st Century Schizoid Man", the song's lyrics have a distinctly dystopian feel to them. The song's title was used as the name for a live album of recordings done by the original King Crimson, Epitaph. Emerson, Lake & Palmer would later incorporate an excerpt from this song after the "Battlefield" portion of the live version of their song "Tarkus", from the Tarkus album, as documented in the live album Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends... Ladies and Gentlemen. "Stripes" from Cage's album Hell's Winter samples a middle part of the song throughout its duration. Epitaph Records also took its name from the song.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. epitaph

   An epitaph is a phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Epitaphnoun

   an inscription on, or at, a tomb, or a grave, in memory or commendation of the one buried there; a sepulchral inscription

2. Epitaphnoun

   a brief writing formed as if to be inscribed on a monument, as that concerning Alexander: "Sufficit huic tumulus, cui non sufficeret orbis."

3. Epitaphverb

   to commemorate by an epitaph

4. Epitaphverb

   to write or speak after the manner of an epitaph

5. Etymology: [F. pitaphe, L. epitaphium a funeral oration, fr. Gr. , orig. an adj., over or at a tomb; 'epi` upon + tomb. Cf. Cenotaph.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Epitaph

   An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial. An epitaph may be in poem verse; poets have been known to compose their own epitaphs prior to their death, as William Shakespeare did. Most epitaphs are brief records of the family, and perhaps the career, of the deceased, often with an expression of love or respect - "beloved father of ..." - but others are more ambitious. From the Renaissance to the 19th century in Western culture, epitaphs for notable people became increasingly lengthy and pompous descriptions of their family origins, career, virtues and immediate family, often in Latin. However, the Laudatio Turiae, the longest known Ancient Roman epitaph exceeds almost all of these at 180 lines; it celebrates the virtues of a wife, probably of a consul. Some are quotes from holy texts, or aphorisms. One approach of many epitaphs is to 'speak' to the reader and warn them about their own mortality. A wry trick of others is to request the reader to get off their resting place, inasmuch as the reader would have to be standing on the ground above the coffin to read the inscription. Some record achievements. Nearly all note name, year or date of birth, and date of death. Many list family members and the relationship of the deceased to them.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Epitaph

   ep′i-taf, n. a commemorative inscription on a tombstone or monument.—v.t. to write an epitaph upon.—adjs. Epitaph′ian, Epitaph′ic.—n. Ep′itaphist, a writer of epitaphs. [Gr. epitaphion—epi, upon, taphos, a tomb.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Epitaph

   an inscription placed on a tombstone in commemoration of the dead interred below. The natural feeling which prompts such inscriptions has manifested itself among all civilised peoples, and not a little of a nation's character may be read in them. The Greeks reserved epitaphs for their heroes, but amongst the Romans grew up the modern custom of marking the tombs of relatives with some simple inscription, many of their sepulchres being placed on the side of the public roads, a circumstance which explains the phrase, Siste, viator—Stay, traveller—found in old graveyards.

The Roycroft DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. epitaph

   1. Postponed compliments. 2. Postmortem bull-con. 3. Qualifying for the Ananias Club.

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon WurdzRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. EPITAPH

   A statement that usually lies above about the one who lies beneath.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. epitaph

   Song lyrics by epitaph -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by epitaph on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Inscription
   • Memorial

How to pronounce epitaph?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say epitaph in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of epitaph in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of epitaph in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of epitaph in a Sentence

1. Harry S Truman:

   I always remember an epitaph which is in the cemetery at Tombstone, Arizona. It says 'Here lies Jack Williams. He done his damnedest.' I think that is the greatest epitaph a man can have - When he gives everything that is in him to do the job he has before him. That is all you can ask of him and that is what I have tried to do.

2. Abel Evans:

   Lie heavy on him earth, for he laid many a heavy load on thee (suggested epitaph)

3. Harry S Truman:

   I always remember an epitaph which is in the cemetery at Tombstone, Arizona. It says 'Here lies Jack Williams. He done his damnedest.' I think that is the greatest epitaph a man can have.

4. Rudyard Kipling:

   And the end of the fight is a tombstone white with the name of the late deceased, and the epitaph drear: A Fool lies here who tried to hustle the East.

5. Abel Evans:

   Lie heavy on him earth, hor he laid many a heavy load on thee (suggested epitaph)

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=epitaph
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Epitaph
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=epitaph
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epitaph
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epitaph
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=epitaph
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=epitaph
9. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Epitaph
10. ^ The Roycroft Dictionary
    https://www.gutenberg.org/files/36566/36566-h/36566-h.htm#:~:text=epitaph
11. ^ The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz
    https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1989/pg1989-images.html#:~:text=epitaph