Definition

1. Noun:
   • An engraved inscription: A short text, such as a quotation, name, or date, that is carved, etched, or otherwise permanently inscribed onto a hard surface like stone, metal, or a building.
   • A quotation at the beginning of some piece of writing: A brief quotation or saying placed at the start of a book, chapter, poem, or essay to suggest its theme, set a tone, or provide context.

Examples of Usage

• As an engraved inscription:

  • The ancient epigraph on the monument was difficult to decipher.
  • Archaeologists studied the epigraph to learn about the city's founder.

• As a literary quotation:

  • The novel begins with an epigraph from a poem by Emily Dickinson.
  • She chose a poignant epigraph to introduce the theme of her research paper.

Advanced Usage

• Epigraphs in academic works: In scholarly books, an epigraph may be used to frame the central argument or to pay homage to a foundational thinker in the field.

  • The thesis opened with an epigraph from Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason".

• Epigraphs in series: A writer might use a different epigraph for each chapter, with each one commenting on or foreshadowing the chapter's events.

  • Every chapter in the historical biography featured an epigraph from a primary source document.

Variants and Related Words

• Epigraphy (n): The study and interpretation of ancient inscriptions.

  • He specialized in the epigraphy of Roman Britain.

• Epigraphic (adj): Relating to or of the nature of an epigraph.

  • The epigraphic evidence was crucial for dating the artifact.

Synonyms

• Inscription: A words or letters carved or written on a surface.
• Motto: A short sentence or phrase expressing a rule of conduct or a principle.
• Quotation: A group of words taken from a text or speech and repeated by someone other than the original author.

Related Phrases

• To serve as an epigraph: To function as an introductory quotation.
  • This line from the psalm serves as the perfect epigraph for the memoir.

Related Idioms

• "To set the stage with an epigraph": To use a quotation at the beginning to establish the mood or central idea for what follows.
  • By setting the stage with an epigraph about war, the author immediately alerted readers to the book's grim subject matter.

Noun

1. an engraved inscription
2. a quotation at the beginning of some piece of writing