Epitomal

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. serving as a quintessential representation that encapsulates main features of a specific category while exemplifying its most notable attributes
2. serving as a model that clearly illustrates the defining qualities of a certain type while highlighting its most significant traits
3. Offering a brief and accurate summary that captures the core aspects of a particular subject

Etymology: "Epitomal" is simply "epitome" with the adjective-making suffix "-al" added to the end. The base word traces back to Greek "epitomē", from "epitemnein", meaning "to cut short" or "to abridge", built from "epi-" (upon) and "temnein" (to cut). An epitome was therefore a cut-down version of something larger, a summary that kept the essential parts. Over time the sense shifted from the summary itself to the perfect example of a type, so that a person can be the epitome of courtesy. The adjective follows that later sense. Something epitomal stands as a model that displays the defining qualities of its kind, which is a fairly direct extension of the noun's meaning. Because "-al" is a common and productive ending, the formation is transparent, and English speakers can build it from the noun without needing to learn anything new about the root.

Synonyms: exemplary, representative, typical, illustrative, model

Antonyms: atypical, unrepresentative, nonexemplary, unusual, exceptional