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epic

Syllabification: (ep·ic)
Pronunciation: /ˈepik/
Translate epic | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of epic

noun

  • a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation.
  • the genre of epic poems:the romances display gentler emotions not found in Greek epic
  • a long film, book, or other work portraying heroic deeds and adventures or covering an extended period of time:a Hollywood biblical epic

adjective

  • of, relating to, or characteristic of an epic or epics:England’s national epic poem Beowulf
  • heroic or grand in scale or character:his epic journey around the world a tragedy of epic proportions
  • informal particularly impressive or remarkable:the gig last night was epic these CEOs are paid salaries and bonuses in the millions despite their epic failures

Derivatives

epical

adjective

epically

Pronunciation: /-(ə)lē/
adverb

Origin:

late 16th century (as an adjective): via Latin from Greek epikos, from epos 'word, song', related to eipein 'say'

epic in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of epic in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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