epigraph

Meaningwritten on

Common meaning: an opening quotation placed before a text

Other meanings: also an inscription on stone

epiupon; in addition
graphto scratch marks, hence to write or drawLiddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), p. 317 · scan

‘upon’ + ‘to scratch marks, hence to write or draw’ → epigraph

Journey through time

Greekγράφω (gráphō)‘to scratch marks, hence to write or draw’
Latinepigram
Frenchepigramme
Englishepigraph‘an opening quotation placed before a text’ · today

epi- also in: episode epistle epitaph epithet epitome

graph also in: telegram autograph biography geography monograph

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

UK IPA: not available. Respelling: generated.
US IPA: not available. Respelling: generated.

Origin: Built on Ancient Greek γράφω (gráphō) ‘to scratch marks, hence to write or draw’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Liddell & Scott, Greek-English Lexicon (1883), entry γράφω (gráphō), p. 317 · dictionary scan; Skeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), entry PARAGRAPH, p. 420 · dictionary scan

Roots

γράφω (gráphō) Ancient Greek “to scratch marks, hence to write or draw”

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