Forms: α. (4 epithphy) 5 epytaphy, (6 epetaphy), 5–6 epitaphye, -taphie. β. 5–6 epitaphe, (5 epythaphe, epithaphe, epetaph, epitaff, 7– epitaph. [ad. L. epitaphium, a. Gr. ἐπιτάφιον, neut. of ἐπιτάφιος adj. (spoken) on the occasion of a burial, (written) upon a tomb, f. ἐπί upon + τάφος sepulture, tomb. the β forms prob. a. Fr. épitaphe.]
1. An inscription upon a tomb. Hence, occasionally, a brief composition characterizing a deceased person, and expressed as if intended to be inscribed on his tombstone.
α. [1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 225. Þis geauntes epitaphium, þat is, þe writynge of mynde of hym þat lay þere, was suche] Ibid., VII. 149. His epithphy—þat is, writynge on his grave.
c. 1470. Harding, Chron., XCVII. xv. Ye bishop of Rome … on his tombe set his epitaphye.
1520. Test. Ebor. (Surtees), V. 123. Such a epitaphie as shall be devised by me or my executours.
1538. Leland, Itin., II. 49. A rich Tumbe of Alabastre … having this Epitaphie on it.
β. 1393. Gower, Conf., III. 326. Her epitaphe of good assise Was write about.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. xx. An Epythaphe anone he dyd do graue In his honour.
c. 1532. Dewes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 1032 (title), An epitaphe made upon the deth of Frenche.
1583. (title) A booke Of Epitaphes made vpon the Death of … Sir VVilliam Bvttes.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iii. III. For all Orations … Epithaphes, herses … he dies like a log.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 25, ¶ 5. An Italian Epitaph written on the Monument of a Valetudinarian.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., i. They belong, we are assured by the epitaph, to the class of persecuted Presbyterians.
1849. Lytton, Caxtons, 103. But no epitaph tells their virtues.
b. transf. and fig.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Goethe, Wks. (Bohn), I. 382. The rolling rock leaves its scratches on the mountain … the fern and leaf their modest epitaph in the coal.
1860. Farrar, Orig. Lang., i. 26. That gigantic and mysterious epitaph of humanity.
2. Comb.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 99, ¶ 5. What will become of your Embalmers, Epitaph-Mongers, and Chief Mourners?
