| 释义 |
▪ I. epitome, n.|ɪˈpɪtəmiː|
Also 7–8 epitomy, 6 epitomie, 6 aphet. (? humorously) pitomie.
[a. L. epitomē, a. Gr. ἐπιτοµή, f. ἐπιτέµνειν to make an incision into, abridge, f. ἐπί upon + τέµνειν to cut.]
1. A brief statement of the chief points in a literary work; an abridgement, abstract.
1529Frith Antithesis 299 A little treatise, after the manner of an epitome, and short rehearsal of all things that are examined more diligently in the aforesaid book. 1534Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) B v. b, The wrytynges of theim..semethe rather epitomes, than histories. 1589‘Marprel.’ Hay any Work 35, I haue onely published a Pistle, and a Pitomie. 1612Drayton's Polyolb. A iij, The common printed Chronicle.. is indeed but an Epitome or Defloration made by Robert of Lorraine. 1698Fryer Acc. E. India & P. in Phil. Trans. XX. 347 'Tis very difficult to give an Abstract or Epitomy of them. 1751Johnson Rambler No. 145 ⁋12 Some delight in abstracts and epitomes. a1822Shelley Ess. Def. Poetry (Camelot ed.) 9 Epitomes have been called the moths of just history; they eat out the poetry of it. 1856Macaulay Biog. (1867) 68 In general nothing is less attractive than an epitome: but the epitomes of Goldsmith..are always amusing.
b. A summary or condensed account of anything; a compendium of a subject.
1621Sclater Tythes (1623) 183 This age is strangely in loue with Epitomees, if faith it selfe shall bee drawne to her compendium. 1645W. Ball Sphere Govt. 12 Magna Charta..is..an Abridgement or Epitome of the liberties and rights of the Subjects of England. c1665Mrs. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846) 24 To number his virtues is to give an epitome of his life. 1728Morgan Algiers I. Pref. 24 The Introduction or Epitome of the Country I treat of..is a mere work of Supererogation. 1755Mem. Capt. P. Drake To Rdr., It may not be improper to furnish the Reader with an Epitomy of that Character. 1883Froude Short Stud. IV. i. iii. 36 The articles in the text are an epitome of those which the Church found most objectionable.
2. transf. Something that forms a condensed record or representation ‘in miniature’.
1607Shakes. Cor. v. iii. 67 This is a poore Epitome of yours, Which by th' interpretation of full time, May shew like all your selfe. 1628Earle Microcosm., Pauls Walke (Arb.) 73 Pauls Walke is the Lands Epitome, or you may call it the lesser Ile of Great Brittaine. 1666J. Smith Old Age (1752) 43 That world's epitomy, man. 1760R. Graves Euphrosyne (1776) I. 124 Prepar'd to see A palace in epitome. 1773Brydone Sicily xxxvii. (1809) 355 No less an epitome of the whole earth in its soil and climate, than in the variety of its productions. 1868M. Pattison Academ. Org. §2. 30 Congregation has been..an epitome of Convocation. 1874Ruskin Stones Ven. I. Pref. 13 The Church of St. Mark..is an epitome of the changes of Venetian architecture from the tenth to the nineteenth century.
†b. In depreciatory sense: Something that is reduced to insignificant dimensions. Obs.
a1593H. Smith Wks. (1866–7) I. 282 When the hours of sleep..of youth, and..of sorrow are taken away, what an epitome is man's life come to. 1601Weever Mirr. Mart. C ij, These were the worlds first youthfull progenie, To these our men are an Epitomie.
3. in epitome:
a. in the form of a summary;
b. in a diminutive form.
1649G. Daniel Trinarch., Henry V, cxiii, The fantasies..Might have resolv'd this, in Epitomie. 1682Wheler Journ. Greece 325 Snow, which this poor Hermite's aged Head seemeth, in epitome, to resemble. 1759Dilworth Pope 101 A description, calculated to contain in epitome the principles of a farther taste for magnificence. 1849Thoreau Week Concord Riv. Saturday 26 The characteristics and pursuits of various ages and races of men are always existing in epitome in every neighborhood.
▸ A person who or thing which is a perfect embodiment of a particular quality or type. Usu. in the (very) epitome of.
1698M. Pix Queen Catharine v. 49 My Lord, you're come to meet news as sad As what you bring; to see a wretched Court, The very Epitome of sorrow. 1794M. Robinson Widow I. 176, I have seen the fairest of the sex; she is the very epitome of every thing bewitching and dangerous. 1814W. H. Ireland Chalcographimania 87 When necessity has compelled me to visit the shop of this whining canting dealer, I have with infinite difficulty refrained from giving vent to my risible faculties, as he literally is the very epitome of discontent. 1883Cent. Mag. Apr. 842/2 The impression grew upon him that Monsignore was but an epitome or personification of the dismal and haughty palace. 1939Partisan Rev. 6 40 Kitsch is the epitome of all that is spurious in the life of our times. 1979Gourmet Dec. 26/2 The veal—overlapping collops of cold roast leg napped with a perfect balance of mayonnaise and tuna—was the epitome of a simple dish that all too often goes awry in inexpert hands. 2000M. Gayle Turning Thirty xvii. 80 This guy in his early twenties, with his goatee beard, beanie hat and trainers..undoubtedly thought he was the epitome of cool.
▪ II. † eˈpitome, v. Obs.
[f. prec. n.]
intr. To make an epitome or summary; in quot. pass. impers.
1602Warner Alb. Eng. xii. lxx. (1612) 293 Of Northerne Regions partly is Epitomed before. |