EPITHET is a descriptive word in place of the name of a person or thing, usually insulting. EPITAPH is the inscription on a tombstone, or else a tribute to the departed. EPIGRAM is a brief, clever statement. EPIGRAPH is a brief quotation set at the beginning of a text to suggest its theme, or the inscription on a statue or building.
Extra credit for each of these questions you can answer:
1. What does the "epi-" part of each word mean?
2. What does the word part "thet" mean here?
3. What does the word part "taph" mean?
4. What does the word part "gram" mean?
5. What does the word part "graph" mean?
