epigram

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ep=i=gram

CIDE DICTIONARY

epigram, n. [L. epigramma, fr. Gr. inscription, epigram, fr. to write upon, 'epi` upon + to write: cf. F. épigramme. See Graphic.].

•  A short poem treating concisely and pointedly of a single thought or event. The modern epigram is so contrived as to surprise the reader with a witticism or ingenious turn of thought, and is often satirical in character.  [1913 Webster]

  " Epigrams were originally inscription on tombs, statues, temples, triumphal arches, etc."  [1913 Webster]

  "Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram?"  [1913 Webster]
•  An effusion of wit; a bright thought tersely and sharply expressed, whether in verse or prose.  [1913 Webster]
•  The style of the epigram.  [1913 Webster]

  "Antithesis, i. e., bilateral stroke, is the soul of epigram in its later and technical signification."

OXFORD DICTIONARY

epigram, n.
1 a short poem with a witty ending.
2 a pointed saying.
3 a pointed mode of expression.

Derivative

epigrammatic adj. epigrammatically adv. epigrammatist n. epigrammatize v.tr. & intr. (also -ise).

Etymology

F {eacute}pigramme or L epigramma f. Gk epigramma -atos (as EPI-, -GRAM)

DEVIL DICTIONARY

epigram

n. A short, sharp saying in prose or verse, frequently characterize by acidity or acerbity and sometimes by wisdom. Following are some of the more notable epigrams of the learned and ingenious Dr. Jamrach Holobom:

We know better the needs of ourselves than of others. To
serve oneself is economy of administration.

In each human heart are a tiger, a pig, an ass and a
nightingale. Diversity of character is due to their unequal
activity.

There are three sexes; males, females and girls.

Beauty in women and distinction in men are alike in this:
they seem to be the unthinking a kind of credibility.

Women in love are less ashamed than men. They have less to be
ashamed of.

While your friend holds you affectionately by both your hands
you are safe, for you can watch both his.

THESAURUS

epigram

Atticism, English sonnet, Horatian ode, Italian sonnet, Petrarchan sonnet, Pindaric ode, Sapphic ode, Shakespearean sonnet, abridgment, adage, alba, ana, anacreontic, analects, aphorism, apophthegm, apothegm, axiom, balada, ballad, ballade, bon mot, boutade, bright idea, bright thought, brilliant idea, bucolic, byword, canso, catchword, chanson, clerihew, collected sayings, conceit, crack, current saying, dictate, dictum, dirge, distich, dithyramb, double entendre, eclogue, elegy, epic, epithalamium, epode, epopee, epopoeia, epos, equivoque, expression, facetiae, flash of wit, flight of wit, georgic, ghazel, gibe, gnome, golden saying, haiku, happy thought, idyll, jeu de mots, jingle, limerick, lyric, madrigal, maxim, monody, moral, mot, motto, narrative poem, nasty crack, nursery rhyme, ode, oracle, palinode, paronomasia, pastoral, pastoral elegy, pastorela, pastourelle, persiflage, phrase, pithy saying, play of wit, play on words, pleasantry, poem, precept, prescript, prothalamium, proverb, proverbial saying, proverbs, pun, quip, quips and cranks, repartee, retort, rhyme, riposte, rondeau, rondel, roundel, roundelay, sally, satire, saw, saying, scintillation, sentence, sententious expression, sestina, sloka, smart crack, smart saying, snappy comeback, song, sonnet, sonnet sequence, stock saying, stroke of wit, sutra, tanka, teaching, tenso, tenzone, text, threnody, triolet, troubadour poem, turn of phrase, turn of thought, verse, verselet, versicle, villanelle, virelay, wisdom, wisdom literature, wise saying, wisecrack, witticism, word, words of wisdom

ROGET THESAURUS

epigram

Wit

N wit, humor, wittiness, sense of humor, attic wit, attic salt, atticism, salt, esprit, point, fancy, whim, drollery, pleasantry, farce, buffoonery, fooling, tomfoolery, shenanigan, harlequinade, broad farce, broad humor, fun, espieglerie, vis comica, jocularity, jocosity, jocoseness, facetiousness, waggery, waggishness, whimsicality, comicality, banter, badinage, retort, repartee, smartness, ready wit, quid- pro-quo, ridicule, jest, joke, jape, jibe, facetiae, levity, quips and cranks, capital joke, canorae nugae, standing jest, standing joke, private joke, conceit, quip, quirk, crank, quiddity, concetto, plaisanterie, brilliant idea, merry thought, bright thought, happy thought, sally, flash of wit, flash of merriment, scintillation, mot, mot pour rire, witticism, smart saying, bon-mot, jeu d'esprit, epigram, jest book, dry joke, quodlibet, cream of the jest, word-play, jeu de mots, play of words, play upon words, pun, punning, double entente, double entendre, quibble, verbal quibble, conundrum, anagram, acrostic, double acrostic, trifling, idle conceit, turlupinade, old joke, tired joke, flat joke, Joe Miller, witty, attic, quick-witted, nimble-witted, smart, jocular, jocose, humorous, facetious, waggish, whimsical, kidding, joking, puckish, playful, merry and wise, pleasant, sprightly, light, spirituel, sparkling, epigrammatic, full of point, ben trovato, comic, zany, madcap, funny, amusing, jokingly, in joke, in jest, in sport, in play, adhibenda est in jocando moderatio, gentle dullness ever loves a joke, leave this keen encounter of our wits, just joking, just kidding, surely you jest!.