Chapter 90

Ep`i*gen"e*sis (?), n. [Pref. epi- + genesis.] (Biol.) The theory of generation which holds that the germ is created entirely new, not merely expanded, by the procreative power of the parents. It is opposed to the theory of evolution, also to syngenesis.

Ep`i*gen"e*sist (?), n. (Biol.) One who believes in, or advocates the theory of, epigenesis.

Ep`i*ge*net"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to the epigenesis; produced according to the theory of epigenesis.

Ep`i*ge"ous (?), a. Same as Epigæous.

||Ep*i*ge"um (?), n. [NL. See Epigee.] See Perigee. [Obs.]

Ep`i*glot"tic (?), a. (Anat.) Pertaining to, or connected with, the epiglottis.

Ep`i*glot*tid"e*an (?), a. (Anat.) Same as Epiglottic.

Ep`i*glot"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;; 'epi` upon + &?;, &?;, tongue. See Glottis.] (Anat.) A cartilaginous lidlike appendage which closes the glottis while food or drink is passing while food or drink is passing through the pharynx.

E*pig"na*thous (?), a. [Epi- + Gr. gna`qos the jaw.] (Zoöl.) Hook- billed; having the upper mandible longer than the lower.

Ep"i*gram (?), n. [L. epigramma, fr. Gr. &?; inscription, epigram, fr. &?; to write upon, 'epi` upon + &?; to write: cf. F. épigramme. See Graphic.] 1. A short poem treating concisely and pointedly of a single thought or event. The modern epigram is so contrived as to surprise the reader with a witticism or ingenious turn of thought, and is often satirical in character.

Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram?

Shak.

Epigrams were originally inscription on tombs, statues, temples, triumphal arches, etc.

2. An effusion of wit; a bright thought tersely and sharply expressed, whether in verse or prose.

3. The style of the epigram.

Antithesis, i. e., bilateral stroke, is the soul of epigram in its later and technical signification.

B. Cracroft.

{ Ep`i*gram*mat"ic (?), Ep`i*gram*mat"ic*al (?), }[L. epigrammaticus: cf. F. épigrammatique.] 1. Writing epigrams; dealing in epigrams; as, an epigrammatical poet.

2. Suitable to epigrams; belonging to epigrams; like an epigram; pointed; piquant; as, epigrammatic style, wit, or sallies of fancy.

Ep`i*gram*mat"ic*al*ly, adv. In the way of epigram; in an epigrammatic style.

Ep`i*gram"ma*tist (?), n. [L. epigrammatista: cf. F. épigrammatiste.] One who composes epigrams, or makes use of them.

The brisk epigrammatist showing off his own cleverness.

Holmes.

Ep`i*gram"ma*tize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Epigrammatized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Epigrammatizing (?).] To represent by epigrams; to express by epigrams.

Ep`i*gram"ma*ti`zer (?), n. One who writes in an affectedly pointed style.

Epigrammatizers of our English prose style.

Coleridge.

Ep"i*gram`mist (?), n. An epigrammatist. Jer. Taylor.

Ep"i*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?;: cf. F. épigraphe. See Epigram.] 1. Any inscription set upon a building; especially, one which has to do with the building itself, its founding or dedication.

2. (Literature) A citation from some author, or a sentence framed for the purpose, placed at the beginning of a work or of its separate divisions; a motto.

{ Ep`i*graph"ic (?), Ep`i*graph"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to epigraphs or to epigraphy; as, an epigraphic style; epigraphical works or studies.

Ep`i*graph"ics (?), n. The science or study of epigraphs.

E*pig"ra*phist (?), n. A student of, or one versed in, epigraphy.

E*pig"ra*phy (?), n. The science of inscriptions; the art of engraving inscriptions or of deciphering them.

E*pig"y*nous (?), a. [Pref. epi- + Gr. &?; woman, female: cf. F. épigyne.] (Bot.) Adnate to the surface of the ovary, so as to be apparently inserted upon the top of it; -- said of stamens, petals, sepals, and also of the disk.

Ep`i*hy"al (?), n. [Pref. epi- + the Greek letter &?;.] (Anat.) A segment next above the ceratohyal in the hyoidean arch.

Ep"i*lep`sy (?), n. [L. epilepsia, Gr. &?; a seizure, the "falling sickness," fr. &?; to take besides, seize, attack; 'epi` upon, besides + &?; to take: cf. F. épilepsie. Cf. Catalepsy.] (Med.) The "falling sickness," so called because the patient falls suddenly to the ground; a disease characterized by paroxysms (or fits) occurring at interval and attended by sudden loss of consciousness, and convulsive motions of the muscles. Dunglison.

Ep`i*lep"tic (?), a. [L. epilepticus, Gr. &?; : cf. F. épileptique.] Pertaining to, affected with, or of the nature of, epilepsy.

Ep`i*lep"tic, n. 1. One affected with epilepsy.

2. A medicine for the cure of epilepsy.

Ep`i*lep"tic*al (?), a. Epileptic.

Ep`i*lep"ti*form (?), a. Resembling epilepsy.

Ep`i*lep*tog"e*nous (?), a. [Gr. 'epi`lhptos epileptic + -genous.] (Med.) Producing epilepsy or epileptoid convulsions; -- applied to areas of the body or of the nervous system, stimulation of which produces convulsions.

Ep`i*lep"toid (?), a. [Gr. 'epi`lhptos + -oid.] (Med.) Resembling epilepsy; as, epileptoid convulsions.

Ep`i*lo*ga"tion (?), n. [LL. epilogatio.] A summing up in a brief account. [Obs.] Udall.

{ Ep`i*log"ic (?), Ep`i*log"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. 'epilogiko`s.] Of or pertaining to an epilogue.

E*pil"o*gism (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to reckon over, to deliver an epilogue; 'epi` upon + &?; to count, reckon. See Epilogue.] Enumeration; computation. [R.] J. Gregory.

Ep`i*lo*gis"tic (?), a. [Cf. Gr. &?; calculating. See Epilogism.] Of or pertaining to epilogue; of the nature of an epilogue. T. Warton.

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E*pil"o*gize (?), v. i. & t. [See Epilogism.] To speak an epilogue to; to utter as an epilogue.

Ep"i*logue (?; 115), n. [F. épilogue, L. epilogus, fr. Gr. &?; conclusion, fr. &?; to say in addition; 'epi` upon, besides + &?; to say. See Legend.] 1. (Drama) A speech or short poem addressed to the spectators and recited by one of the actors, after the conclusion of the play.

A good play no epilogue, yet . . . good plays prove the better by the help of good epilogues.

Shak.

2. (Rhet.) The closing part of a discourse, in which the principal matters are recapitulated; a conclusion.

Ep"i*lo*guize (?), v. i. & t. Same as Epilogize.

||E*pim"a*chus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; equipped for battle; &?; for + &?; battle.] (Zoöl.) A genus of highly ornate and brilliantly colored birds of Australia, allied to the birds of Paradise.

||E*pim"e*ra (?), n. pl. See Epimeron.

E*pim"er*al (?), a. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the epimera.

Ep"i*mere (?), n. [Epi- + - mere.] (Biol.) One of the segments of the transverse axis, or the so called homonymous parts; as, for example, one of the several segments of the extremities in vertebrates, or one of the similar segments in plants, such as the segments of a segmented leaf. Syd. Soc. Lex.

||E*pim"e*ron (?), n.; pl. Epimera (#). [NL., fr. Gr. 'epi` upon + &?; a part.] (Zoöl.) (a) In crustaceans: The part of the side of a somite external to the basal joint of each appendage. See Illust. under Crustacea. (b) In insects: The lateral piece behind the episternum. [Written also epimerum.]

Ep`i*nas"tic (?), a. [Pref. epi- + Gr. &?; pressed close.] (Physiol.) A term applied to that phase of vegetable growth in which an organ grows more rapidly on its upper than on its under surface. See Hyponastic.

Ep`i*neu"ral (?), a. [Pref. epi- + neural.] (Anat.) Arising from the neurapophysis of a vertebra.

||Ep`i*neu"ri*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'epi` upon + &?; a nerve.] (Anat.) The connective tissue framework and sheath of a nerve which bind together the nerve bundles, each of which has its own special sheath, or perineurium.

||Ep`in*glette" (?), n. [F.] (Mil.) An iron needle for piercing the cartridge of a cannon before priming.

Ep`i*ni"cial (?), a. [See Epinicion.] Relating to victory. "An epinicial song." T. Warton.

Ep`i*ni"cion (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; belonging to victory; 'epi` upon, to + &?; victory: cf. L. epinicium.] A song of triumph. [Obs.] T. Warton.

Ep`i*nik"i*an (?), a. Epinicial.

Ep`i*or"nis (?), n. [NL.: cf. F. épiornis. See Æpyornis.] (Zoöl.) One of the gigantic ostrichlike birds of the genus Æpiornis, only recently extinct. Its remains have been found in Madagascar. [Written also Æpyornis.]

Ep`i*o"tic (?), n. [Pref. epi- + Gr. &?;, gen. &?;, ear.] (Anat.) The upper and outer element of periotic bone, -- in man forming a part of the temporal bone.

Ep`i*pe*dom"e*try (?), n. [Gr. 'epi`pedos on the ground, level ('epi` + pe`don ground) + -metry.] (Geom.) The mensuration of figures standing on the same base. [Obs.]

Ep`i*pe*riph"er*al (?), a. [Pref. epi- + peripheral.] (Physiol.) Connected with, or having its origin upon, the external surface of the body; -- especially applied to the feelings which originate at the extremities of nerves distributed on the outer surface, as the sensation produced by touching an object with the finger; -- opposed to entoperipheral. H. Spenser.

Ep`i*pet"al*ous (?), a. [Pref. epi- + petal.] (Bot.) Borne on the petals or corolla.

E*piph"a*ny (?), n. [F. épiphanie, L. epiphania, Gr. 'epifa`nia (sc. &?;), for 'epifa`neia appearance, fr. 'epifai`nein to show forth; 'epi` + fai`nein to show. See Fancy.] 1. An appearance, or a becoming manifest.

Whom but just before they beheld transfigured and in a glorious epiphany upon the mount.

Jer. Taylor.

An epic poet, if ever such a difficult birth should make its epiphany in Paris.

De Quincey.

2. (Eccl.) A church festival celebrated on the 6th of January, the twelfth day after Christmas, in commemoration of the visit of the Magi of the East to Bethlehem, to see and worship the child Jesus; or, as others maintain, to commemorate the appearance of the star to the Magi, symbolizing the manifestation of Christ to the Gentles; Twelfthtide.

Ep`i*phar`yn*ge"al (?), a. [Pref. epi- + pharyngeal.] (Anat.) Pertaining to the segments above the epibranchial in the branchial arches of fishes. -- n. An epipharyngeal bone or cartilage.

Ep`i*phar"ynx (?), n. [Epi- + pharynx.] (Zoöl.) A structure which overlaps the mouth of certain insects.

||Ep`i*pho*ne"ma (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. 'epifw`nhma, fr. 'epifwnei^n to mention; 'epi` + fwnei^n to speak.] (Rhet.) An exclamatory sentence, or striking reflection, which sums up or concludes a discourse.

E*piph"o*neme (?), n. Epiphonema. [R.]

||E*piph"o*ra (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. 'epifora`, fr. 'epife`rein to bring to or upon; 'epi` + fe`rein to bring.] 1. (Med.) The watery eye; a disease in which the tears accumulate in the eye, and trickle over the cheek.

2. (Rhet.) The emphatic repetition of a word or phrase, at the end of several sentences or stanzas.

Ep"i*phragm (?), n. [Gr. &?; a covering, lid, fr. &?; to block up.] (Zoöl.) A membranaceous or calcareous septum with which some mollusks close the aperture of the shell during the time of hibernation, or æstivation.

Ep`i*phyl`lo*sper"mous (?), a. [Gr. 'epi` + fy`llon leaf + spe`rma seed.] (Bot.) Bearing fruit on the back of the leaves, as ferns. Harris (1710).

E*piph"yl*lous (?), a. [Gr. 'epi` + fy`llon leaf.] (Bot.) Growing upon, or inserted into, the leaf.

||Ep`i*phyl"lum (?), n. [NL.] (Bot.) A genus of cactaceous plants having flattened, jointed stems, and petals united in a tube. The flowers are very showy, and several species are in cultivation.

{ Ep`i*phys"e*al (?), Ep`i*phys"i*al (?), } (Anat.) Pertaining to, or having the nature of, an epiphysis.

||E*piph"y*sis (?), n.; pl. Epiphyses (#). [NL., fr. Gr. 'epi`fysis, fr. 'epify`ein to grow upon; 'epi` upon + fy`ein to grow.] (Anat.) (a) The end, or other superficial part, of a bone, which ossifies separately from the central portion, or diaphysis. (b) The cerebral epiphysis, or pineal gland. See Pineal gland, under Pineal.

E*piph"y*tal (?), a. (Bot.) Pertaining to an epiphyte.

Ep"i*phyte (?), n. [Gr. 'epi` upon + fyto`n plant, &?; to grow: cf. F. épiphyte.] 1. (Bot.) An air plant which grows on other plants, but does not derive its nourishment from them. See Air plant.

2. (Med.) A vegetable parasite growing on the surface of the body.

{ Ep`i*phyt"ic (?), Ep`i*phyt"ic*al (?), } a. (Bot.) Pertaining to, or having the nature of, an epiphyte. -- Ep`i*phyt"ic*al*ly, adv.

Ep`i*plas"tron (?), n.; pl. Epiplastra (#). [Pref. epi- + plastron.] (Anat.) One of the first pair of lateral plates in the plastron of turtles.

Ep`i*pleu"ral (?), a. [Pref. epi- + pleural.] (Anat.) Arising from the pleurapophysis of a vertebra. Owen.

||Ep`i*plex"is (?), n. [L., reproof, fr. Gr. &?; , fr. &?; to strike at, reprove; 'epi` + &?; to strike.] (Rhet.) A figure by which a person seeks to convince and move by an elegant kind of upbraiding.

||E*pip"lo*ce (?), n. [L., connection, from Gr. &?; a plaiting together, fr. &?; to plait or braid in; 'epi` upon + &?; to twist, plait.] (Rhet.) A figure by which one striking circumstance is added, in due gradation, to another; climax; e. g., "He not only spared his enemies, but continued them in employment; not only continued, but advanced them." Johnson.

Ep`i*plo"ic (?), a. Relating to the epiploön.

||E*pip"lo*ön (?), n.; pl. Epiploa (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;.] (Anat.) See Omentum.

Ep`i*po"di*al (?), a. 1. (Anat.) Pertaining to the epipodialia or the parts of the limbs to which they belong.

2. (Zoöl.) Pertaining to the epipodium of Mollusca.

||Ep`i*po`di*a"le (?), n.; pl. Epipodialia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. 'epi` upon + &?;, dim. of &?;, &?;, foot.] (Anat.) One of the bones of either the forearm or shank, the epipodialia being the radius, ulna, tibia, and fibula.

E*pip"o*dite (?), n. [See Epipodium.] (Zoöl.) The outer branch of the legs in certain Crustacea. See Maxilliped.

||Ep`i*po"di*um (?), n.; pl. Epipodia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. 'epi` upon + &?;, &?;, foot.] (Zoöl.) One of the lateral lobes of the foot in certain gastropods.

Ep`i*pol"ic (?), a. (Opt.) Producing, or relating to, epipolism or fluorescence. [R.]

E*pip"o*lism (?), n. [Gr. &?; a surface; 'epi` + pe`lein to be.] (Opt.) See Fluorescence. [R.] Sir J. Herschel.

E*pip"o*lized (?), a. Changed to the epipolic condition, or that in which the phenomenon of fluorescence is presented; produced by fluorescence; as, epipolized light. [R.] Stokes.

Ep`ip*ter"ic (?), a. [Pref. epi- + Gr. &?; wing. So called because above the wing of the sphenoid.] (Anat.) Pertaining to a small Wormian bone sometimes present in the human skull between the parietal and the great wing of the sphenoid. -- n. The epipteric bone.

Ep`ip*ter"y*goid (?), a. [Pref. epi- + pterygoid.] (Anat.) Situated upon or above the pterygoid bone. -- n. An epipterygoid bone or cartilage; the columella in the skulls of many lizards.

Ep`i*pu"bic (?), a. Relating to the epipubis.

||Ep`i*pu"bis (?), n.; pl. Epipubes (#). [NL., epi- + pubis.] (Anat.) A cartilage or bone in front of the pubis in some amphibians and other animals.

E*pis"co*pa*cy (?), n. [See Episcopate.] Government of the church by bishops; church government by three distinct orders of ministers -- bishops, priests, and deacons -- of whom the bishops have an authority superior and of a different kind.

E*pis"co*pal (?), a. [L. episcopalis, fr. episcopus: cf. F. épiscopal. See Bishop.] 1. Governed by bishops; as, an episcopal church.

2. Belonging to, or vested in, bishops; as, episcopal jurisdiction or authority; the episcopal system.

E*pis`co*pa"li*an (?), a. Pertaining to bishops, or government by bishops; episcopal; specifically, of or relating to the Protestant Episcopal Church.

E*pis`co*pa"li*an, n. One who belongs to an episcopal church, or adheres to the episcopal form of church government and discipline; a churchman; specifically, in the United States, a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

E*pis`co*pa"li*an*ism (?), n. The doctrine and usages of Episcopalians; episcopacy.

E*pis"co*pal*ly (?), adv. By episcopal authority; in an episcopal manner.

E*pis"co*pant (?), n. A bishop. [Obs.] Milton.

E*pis`co*pa"ri*an (?), a. Episcopal. [R.] Wood.

E*pis"co*pate (?), n. [L. episcopatus, fr. episcopus: cf. F. épiscopat. See Bishop.] 1. A bishopric; the office and dignity of a bishop.

2. The collective body of bishops.

3. The time of a bishop's rule.

E*pis"co*pate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Episcopated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Episcopating.] To act as a bishop; to fill the office of a prelate. [Obs.]

Feeding the flock episcopating.

Milton.

E*pis"co*pi*cide (?), n. [L. episcopus bishop + caedere to kill.] The killing of a bishop.

E*pis"co*pize (?), v. t. To make a bishop of by consecration. Southey.

E*pis"co*pize, v. i. To perform the duties of a bishop.

E*pis"co*py (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?;. See Bishop.] 1. Survey; superintendence. [Obs.] Milton.

2. Episcopacy. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Ep`i*sep"al*ous (?), a. [Pref. epi- + sepal.] (Bot.) Growing on the sepals or adnate to them.

Ep`i*skel"e*tal (?), a. [Pref. epi- + skeleletal.] (Anat.) Above or outside of the endoskeleton; epaxial.

Ep`i*so"dal (?), a. Same as Episodic.

Ep"i*sode (?), n. [Gr. &?; a coming in besides, &?; episode; &?; into, besides + &?; a coming in, &?; into + &?; way, cf. Skr. sad to go: cf. F. épisode.] (Rhet.) A separate incident, story, or action, introduced for the purpose of giving a greater variety to the events related; an incidental narrative, or digression, separable from the main subject, but naturally arising from it.

Ep`i*so"di*al (?), a. Pertaining to an episode; by way of episode; episodic.

{ Ep`i*so"dic (?), Ep`i*so"dic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. épisodique. See Episode.] Of or pertaining to an episode; adventitious. -- Ep`i*so"dic*al*ly, adv.

Such a figure as Jacob Brattle, purely episodical though it be, is an excellent English portrait.

H. James.

||Ep`i*spa"di*as (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'epi` upon + &?; to draw, rend.] (Med.) A deformity in which the urethra opens upon the top of the penis, instead of at its extremity.

Ep"i*spas"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to draw to, attract; &?; to + &?; to draw: cf. F. épispastique.] (Med.) Attracting the humors to the skin; exciting action in the skin; blistering.

Ep"i*spas"tic, n. (Med.) An external application to the skin, which produces a puriform or serous discharge by exciting inflammation; a vesicatory.

Ep"i*sperm (?), n. [Pref. epi- + Gr. &?; seed: cf. F. épisperme.] (Bot.) The skin or coat of a seed, especially the outer coat. See Testa.

Ep`i*sper"mic (?), a. (Bot.) Pertaining, or belonging, to the episperm, or covering of a seed.

Ep"i*spore (?), n. [Pref. epi- + spore.] (Bot.) The thickish outer coat of certain spores.

||Ep`i*stax"is (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'epi` upon + &?; to drop.] (Med.) Bleeding at the nose.

E*pis`te*mol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; knowledge + -logy.] The theory or science of the method or grounds of knowledge.

Ep`i*ster"nal (?), a. (Anat. & Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the episternum.

||Ep`i*ster"num (?), n.; pl. Episterna (#). [NL. See Epi-, and Sternum.] 1. (Anat.) (a) A median bone connected with the sternum, in many vertebrates; the interclavicle. (b) Same as Epiplastron.

2. (Zoöl.) One of the lateral pieces next to the sternum in the thorax of insects.

Ep`i*stil"bite (?), n. [Pref. epi- + stilbite.] (Min.) A crystallized, transparent mineral of the Zeolite family. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime.

E*pis"tle (?), n. [OE. epistle, epistel, AS. epistol, pistol, L. epistola, fr. Gr. &?; anything sent by a messenger, message, letter, fr. &?; to send to, tell by letter or message; 'epi` upon, to + &?; to dispatch, send; cf. OF. epistle, epistre, F. épître. See Stall.] 1. A writing directed or sent to a person or persons; a written communication; a letter; -- applied usually to formal, didactic, or elegant letters.

A madman's epistles are no gospels.

Shak.

2. (Eccl.) One of the letters in the New Testament which were addressed to their Christian brethren by Apostles.

Epistle side, the right side of an altar or church to a person looking from the nave toward the chancel.

One sees the pulpit on the epistle side.

R. Browning.

E*pis"tle, v. t. To write; to communicate in a letter or by writing. [Obs.] Milton.

E*pis"tler (?), n. 1. A writer of epistles, or of an epistle of the New Testament. M. Arnold.

2. (Eccl.) The ecclesiastic who reads the epistle at the communion service.

E*pis"to*lar (?), a. Epistolary. Dr. H. More.

E*pis"to*la*ry (?), a. [L. epistolaris, fr. epistola: cf. F. épistolaire.] 1. Pertaining to epistles or letters; suitable to letters and correspondence; as, an epistolary style.

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2. Contained in letters; carried on by letters. "Epistolary correspondence." Addison.

Ep`is*to"le*an (p`s*t"l*an), n. One who writes epistles; a correspondent. Mary Cowden Clarke.

E*pis"to*ler (*ps"t*lr), n. (Eccl.) One of the clergy who reads the epistle at the communion service; an epistler.

E*pis"to*let (-lt), n. A little epistle. Lamb.

{ Ep`is*tol"ic (?), Ep`is*tol"ic*al (?), } a. [L. epistolicus, Gr. &?;.] Pertaining to letters or epistles; in the form or style of letters; epistolary.

E*pis"to*lize (?), v. i. To write epistles.

E*pis"to*li`zer (?), n. A writer of epistles.

E*pis`to*lo*graph"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; : cf. F. épistolographique.] Pertaining to the writing of letters; used in writing letters; epistolary.

Epistolographic character or mode of writing, the same as Demotic character. See under Demotic.

E*pis`to*log"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. &?; epistle + -graphy: cf. F. épistolographie.] The art or practice of writing epistles.

{ ||E*pis"to*ma (?), Ep"i*stome (?), } n. [NL. epistoma, fr. Gr. 'epi` upon + &?;, &?;, mouth.] (Zoöl.) (a) The region between the antennæ and the mouth, in Crustacea. (b) A liplike organ that covers the mouth, in most Bryozoa. See Illust., under Entoprocta.

||E*pis"tro*phe (?), n. [L., from Gr. &?; a turning toward, return, fr. &?; to turn toward; 'epi` upon, to + &?; to turn.] (Rhet.) A figure in which successive clauses end with the same word or affirmation; e. g., "Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I." 2 Cor. xi. 22.

Ep"i*style (?), n. [L. epistylium, Gr. &?;; 'epi` upon + &?; column: cf. F. épistyle.] (Anc. Arch.) A massive piece of stone or wood laid immediately on the abacus of the capital of a column or pillar; -- now called architrave.

Ep`i*syl"lo*gism (?), n. [Pref. epi- + syllogism.] (Logic) A syllogism which assumes as one of its premises a proposition which was the conclusion of a preceding syllogism, called, in relation to this, the prosyllogism.

Ep"i*taph (?), n. [F. épitaphe, L. epitaphium a funeral oration, fr. Gr. &?;, orig. an adj., over or at a tomb; 'epi` upon + &?; tomb. Cf. Cenotaph.] 1. An inscription on, or at, a tomb, or a grave, in memory or commendation of the one buried there; a sepulchral inscription.

Hang her an epitaph upon her tomb.

Shak.

2. A brief writing formed as if to be inscribed on a monument, as that concerning Alexander: "Sufficit huic tumulus, cui non sufficeret orbis."

Ep"i*taph, v. t. To commemorate by an epitaph. [R.]

Let me be epitaphed the inventor of English hexameters.

G. Harvey.

Ep"i*taph, v. i. To write or speak after the manner of an epitaph. [R.]

The common in their speeches epitaph upon him . . . "He lived as a wolf and died as a dog."

Bp. Hall.

Ep"i*taph`er (?), n. A writer of epitaphs. Nash.

{ Ep`i*taph"i*al (?), Ep`i*taph"i*an (?), } a. Relating to, or of the nature of, an epitaph.

The noble Pericles in his epitaphian speech.

Milton.

Epitaphial Latin verses are not to be taken too literally.

Lowell.

Ep`i*taph"ic (?), a. Pertaining to an epitaph; epitaphian. -- n. An epitaph. Udall.

Ep"i*taph`ist (?), n. An epitapher.

||E*pit"a*sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a stretching, fr. &?; to stretch upon or over; 'epi` upon + &?; to stretch.] 1. That part which embraces the main action of a play, poem, and the like, and leads on to the catastrophe; -- opposed to protasis.

2. (Med.) The period of violence in a fever or disease; paroxysm. Dunglison.

Ep`i*tha*lam"ic (?), a. Belonging to, or designed for, an epithalamium.