epic

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“
The hero of the epic is at once sciolist and simpleton, 'knowing many things, but knowing them all badly'.

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Definitions (15)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (6)

  1. noun An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.
  2. noun A literary or dramatic composition that resembles an extended narrative poem celebrating heroic feats.
  3. noun A series of events considered appropriate to an epic: the epic of the Old West.
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Examples (50)

  • It seems clear also that the epic was an Aeneid , with Julius Caesar in the background, and that parts of the early epic were finally merged into the great work of his maturity. —  Vergil
  • Another scuffed indie smalltown epic, which is the only way to get away with 'em, I suspect. —  Warren Ellis
  • 'For the epic, the world at any given moment is an ultimate principle' —  AnimeBlogger.net Antenna
  • As the Vermont-Air Force East Regional final was turning itself into an epic, the word began to trickle in from Grand Rapids. —  College Hockey News from CHN
  • Introducing Moily's book, American Institute of Indian Studies Director Purushothama Bilimale said: "This epic is an intense search for an equality in a democratic setup and has various dimensions such as search for social equality, economic equality, political equality and gender equality." —  dailyindia.com News Feed
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Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. From Latin epicus, from Greek epikos, from epos, word, song; see wekw- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. Formerly epick; = French épique = Spanish Portuguese Italian epico (cf. D. G. episch = Danish Swedish episk), from Latin epicus, from Greek ἐπικός, epic, from ἒπος, a word, a speech, tale, plural epic poetry: see epos.
 

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/ˈɛpɪk/
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