epigraph

E1P3I1G2R1A1P3H4
/ˈɛpɪˌɡɹæf/

noun

An inscription, especially on a building.

Opposite
hypograph
OriginAncient Greek ἐπιγραφή →
UncommonScrabble 16
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Meanings

nounepigraph (plural epigraphs)

plural epigraphs

  1. An inscription, especially on a building.
  2. A literary quotation placed at the beginning of a book or other text.
  3. mathematicsThe set of all points lying on or above the function's graph.
verbepigraph (third-person singular simple present epigraphs, present participle epigraphing, simple past and past participle epigraphed)

present singular third person epigraphs · participle present epigraphing · participle past epigraphed · past epigraphed

  1. transitiveTo provide (a literary work) with an epigraph.

Synonyms & antonyms

antonym(s) of “mathematics”

Opposite
hypograph

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἐπιγραφή“inscription”
  2. Englishepigraph

From Ancient Greek ἐπιγραφή (epigraphḗ, “inscription”), from ἐπιγράφω (epigráphō, “write upon”), from ἐπῐ- (epĭ-, “on, upon, over, etc.”) + γρᾰ́φω (grắphō, “to draw, paint, write, etc.”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ἐπιγραφή
  • ἐπιγραφή (epigraphḗ)inscription
Catalan epígraf
  • epígrafinscription
Chinese Mandarin 題詞 /题词, 碑文
  • 題詞 /题词 (tící)inscription
  • 碑文 (bēiwén)inscription
Czech motto
  • mottoliterary quotation placed at the beginning of a text
Dutch motto
  • mottoliterary quotation placed at the beginning of a text
Esperanto epigrafo
  • epigrafoinscription
Estonian epigraaf
  • epigraafinscription
Finnish epigrafi
  • epigrafiinscription
French épigraphe, épigraphe
  • épigrapheinscription
  • épigrapheliterary quotation placed at the beginning of a text
  • épigrapheset of all points lying on or above a mathematical function's graph
German Epigraph
  • Epigraphinscription
Hungarian felirat
  • feliratinscription
Irish eipeagraf
  • eipeagrafinscription
Italian epigrafe
  • epigrafeinscription
Japanese 碑文, エピグラフ
  • 碑文 (hibun)inscription
  • エピグラフ (epigurafu)inscription
Norwegian Bokmål epigraf, epigraf
  • epigrafinscription
  • epigrafliterary quotation placed at the beginning of a text
Polish epigraf, motto
  • epigrafinscription
  • mottoliterary quotation placed at the beginning of a text
  • epigrafliterary quotation placed at the beginning of a text
Portuguese epígrafe, epígrafe
  • epígrafeinscription
  • epígrafeliterary quotation placed at the beginning of a text
Romanian epigraf, epigraf
  • epigrafinscription
  • epigrafliterary quotation placed at the beginning of a text
Russian эпи́граф, эпиграф
  • эпи́граф (epígraf)inscription
  • эпиграф (epigraf)literary quotation placed at the beginning of a text
Spanish epígrafe, epígrafe
  • epígrafeinscription
  • epígrafeliterary quotation placed at the beginning of a text
Swedish epigraf
  • epigrafinscription
Ukrainian епіграф
  • епіграф (epihraf)literary quotation placed at the beginning of a text
Cite this entry
APA

epigraph. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epigraph

MLA

“epigraph.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epigraph. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “epigraph,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epigraph.

Source: epigraph on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.