Main Entry:

ep·i·gram

Pronunciation:

\ˈe-pə-ˌgram\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

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

Date:

15th century

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