Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a person or thing that is typical of or possesses to a high degree the features of a whole class: He is the epitome of goodness.
- a condensed account, especially of a literary work; abstract.
noun
- a typical example of a characteristic or class; embodiment; personificationhe is the epitome of sloth
- a summary of a written work; abstract
1520s, “an abstract; brief statement of the chief points of some writing,” from Middle French épitomé (16c.), from Latin epitome “abridgment,” from Greek epitome “abridgment,” from epitemnein “cut short, abridge,” from epi “into” (see epi-) + temnein “to cut” (see tome). Sense of “person or thing that typifies something” is first recorded c.1600.