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.
1529. Frith, 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.
1534. Ld. 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.
1612. Drayton’s Poly-olb., A iij. The common printed Chronicle … is indeed but an Epitome or Defloration made by Robert of Lorraine.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., in Phil. Trans., XX. 347. ’Tis very difficult to give an Abstract or Epitomy of them.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 145, ¶ 12. Some delight in abstracts and epitomes.
a. 1822. Shelley, Ess. Def. Poetry (Camelot ed.), 9. Epitomes have been called the moths of just history; they eat out the poetry of it.
1856. Macaulay, 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.
1621. W. Sclater, Tythes (1623), 183. This age is strangely in loue with Epitomees, if faith it selfe shall bee drawne to her compendium.
1645. W. Ball, Sphere Govt., 12. Magna Charta … is … an Abridgement or Epitome of the liberties and rights of the Subjects of England.
c. 1665. Mrs. Hutchinson, Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1846), 24. To number his virtues is to give an epitome of his life.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, I. Pref. p. xxiv. The Introduction, or Epitome of the Country I treat of … is a mere Work of Supererogation.
1755. Mem. Capt. P. Drake, To Rdr. It may not be improper to furnish the Reader with an Epitomy of that Character.
1883. Froude, 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.’
1607. Shaks., Cor., V. iii. 67. This is a poore Epitome of yours, Which by th’interpretation of full time, May shew like all your selfe.
1628. Earle, Microcosm., Pauls Walke (Arb.), 73. Pauls Walke is the Lands Epitome, or you may call it the lesser Ile of Great Brittaine.
1666. J. Smith, Old Age (1752), 43. That world’s epitomy, man.
1760. R. Graves, Euphrosyne (1776), I. 124. Prepar’d to see A palace in epitome.
1773. Brydone, Sicily, xxxvii. (1809), 355. No less an epitome of the whole earth in its soil and climate, than in the variety of its productions.
1868. M. Pattison, Academ. Org., § 2. 30. Congregation has been … ‘an epitome of Convocation.’
1874. Ruskin, 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.
a. 1591. H. 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.
1601. Weever, 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.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., Henry V., cxiii. The fantasies … Might have resolv’d this, in Epitomie.
1682. Wheler, Journ. Greece, IV. 325. Snow; which this poor Hermites aged Head seemeth, in epitome, to resemble.
1759. Dilworth, Pope, 101. A description, calculated to contain in epitome the principles of a farther taste for magnificence.
1849. Thoreau, Week Concord Riv., Saturday 26. The characteristics and pursuits of various ages and races of men are always existing in epitome in every neighborhood.
