epigram

ep·i·gram

noun \ˈe-pə-ˌgram\

Definition of EPIGRAM

1

: a concise poem dealing pointedly and often satirically with a single thought or event and often ending with an ingenious turn of thought

2

: a terse, sage, or witty and often paradoxical saying

3

: epigrammatic expression

— ep·i·gram·ma·tism \ˌe-pə-ˈgra-mə-ˌti-zəm\ noun

— ep·i·gram·ma·tist \-ˈgra-mə-tist\ noun

Examples of EPIGRAM

1. <Benjamin Franklin's famous epigram, “Remember that time is money”.>

Origin of EPIGRAM

Middle English epigrame, from Latin epigrammat-, epigramma, from Greek, from epigraphein to write on, inscribe, from epi- + graphein to write — more at carve

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to EPIGRAM

Synonyms: adage, aphorism, apothegm, byword, saying, maxim, proverb, saw, sententia, word

Related Words: bromide, cliché (also cliche), commonplace, platitude, wheeze; expression, felicity; axiom, motto, precept, truism, truth; formula; comment, note, reflection, remark

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Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

Rhymes with EPIGRAM

aerogram, Amsterdam, anagram, Birmingham, Boulder Dam, cablegram, centigram, Christogram, chronogram, cofferdam, cryptogram, decagram, deprogram, diagram, diaphragm, fluid dram, giant clam, hard-shell clam, hexagram, histogram, Hohokam, hologram, kilogram, logogram, mammogram, milligram, Minicam, monogram, nomogram, oriflamme, pentagram, phonogram, pictogram, reprogram, Rotterdam, scattergram, self-exam, skiagram, soft-shell clam, sonogram, subprogram, telegram, tetradrachm, thank-you-ma'am, tinker's damn, Uncle Sam