Epigramme

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A brief, clever poem or saying that ends with a sharp twist ; a terse, polished remark expressing a single witty idea
2. A short poem or verse with a pointed, ingenious ending ; a neatly phrased, memorable statement that captures a thought in few words
3. A compact witty verse built around a surprising conclusion ; a tightly worded, clever observation that sums up an idea in a sentence

Etymology: Ancient Greek "epigramma" meant "inscription," from "epigraphein," "to write upon," built from "epi" ("on") and "graphein" ("to write"). For centuries the word named something carved or written on a monument, a tomb, or a statue base, often a few lines identifying the dedicator or the dead. Short verses on such objects became a poetic form, and the sense shifted from the inscribed text to the verse itself. The word passed through Latin "epigramma" and then Middle French "epigramme" before reaching English, where the spelling "epigramme" survives as a variant of the more common "epigram." Over time the meaning narrowed from any brief inscription to a short poem ending in a sharp, witty turn, a shift that happened as the form moved from stone to the page.

Synonyms: epigram, aphorism, quip