Epigraph
/ˈɛp.ɪ.ɡræf/noun
An inscription, especially one carved or written on a monument, or a short quotation at the beginning of a book or chapter.
Did you know?Epigraph comes from Greek epigraphē, and its root graph- is the same ancient “write” root behind words like graph, biography, and telegram — proof that writing has always been treated like a kind of power.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
epigraphḗ
“an inscription, something written on a surface”
Late Latin
Latin
epigraphē
“an inscription”
14th Century
English
epigraf
“an inscription”
17th Century
English
epigraph
“an inscription, especially on a monument”
Modern English
English
epigraph
“an inscription or a short quotation placed at the beginning of a text”