Meaning of the word epic

The vivid artistic expression «epic» is often used by both the older generation and the youth. This historical adverb has even become a slang word. But what exactly is meant when they say “epic,” and when is it appropriate to use that word and when not?

Often in a conversation you can hear this epithet. It is especially often consumed in emotional situations when familiar words are not enough. An «epic story» is what they say about a situation that at the same time delights and touches or really hurts and upsets. They also talk about someone’s not very prosperous life. Sometimes this expression can be uttered when presenting a funny anecdote. In general, today it is used where, in the speaker’s opinion, this exclamation will be appropriate.

But if we turn to cultural studies and literature, we will be able to understand the deep meaning of the expression.

Epic — how is it?

So, «epic» is:

• word-epithet;
• in terms of speech — adverb;
• is a derivative of the adjective «epic»;
• Epic is rooted in the ancient word epic.

The latter designates the type of work. Literary critics divide all world literature into three types:

1. lyrics;
2. drama;
3. epic.

The epic tells about events that were very long ago and lasted for a very long time. An epic as a literary work is distinguished by a narrative character, namely a stage-by-stage description of actions to which the author most often has nothing to do. In fact, this is a «historical story». Very rarely, the author introduces the narrator himself into the event. According to literary canons, this technique enhances the detachment of the narrative, and, consequently, its majesty and objectivity. The narrator describes the events as if they were long gone, and he was not a witness to them. But in the center of the epic there is always a very significant historical situation, which was reflected in the destinies of great heroes, ancient cities, and sometimes the whole world.

The original meaning of the word «epic» is that which refers to the epic. But modern realities have brought a number of changes to the meaning of the word.

Now that the original interpretation of the expression has become known, it will become much easier to apply it in the right context in speech.

Epic and the modern world

Such a literary word would have remained gathering dust among the pages of school textbooks, if at the end of the 2000s. the term «epic» did not begin to sound in advertising of computer games. Creative marketers were looking for any way to attract the attention of gamblers to new products and managed to find such wonderful expressions that very succinctly characterized virtual battles.

So, the slogan of the game «World of Tanks» was «Epic battle in tanks». However, this epithet was later used even in the names of computer action simulators, such as «Epic Boss Fighter», «Epic Battle Simulator». Why did they think games were epic? Because the «shooters» showcase the largest massive tank battles, like the bloody legendary battles of the Greek gods. Most likely, this was the reason for the inclusion of the ancient literary word in the modern advertising text.

Epic as slang

As often happens, the word «epic» is firmly rooted in youth slang speech, being adopted from the English language.

Thanks to the spread of foreign speech, today the word is used as a synonym for Russian «brilliantly», «quite convincingly», «outstanding». The English expression epic has Greek roots. And in Greek, this word just means what is described above: a work about the heroic deeds of ancient heroes, gods and legends about great events.

The word «epic» in youth slang is increasingly used without any literary connotation and a message to historical times. The word can be heard instead of sayings:

• grandiose,
• great,
• steep.

Sometimes they say this about life, highlighting its most epic moments. In fact, this is how a person highlights the most significant and interesting things that have ever happened to him. The word «epic» allows you to emphasize your own storm of emotions, provoked by memories, the scale of a bygone moment, including financial or geographical coverage.

An important factor when using the word is the significance of the moment. That is, it should be something that radically changed life, environment or perception of the world. Too significant a change.

Sometimes «epic» is used to mean the element of surprise. For example, winning the lottery and then buying expensive things for the whole family is perhaps epic for the entire clan.

Often completely new, unusual word forms are formed with this word. For example, the phrase «Epic Fail» is at its peak today. It is pronounced when you need to shake your head and point out to someone his enchanting failure. The opposite meaning of the expression — «Epic Win» was not left unnoticed. This is a convincing victory.

How to make sure you use a word correctly

A sure colloquial way to make sure that a word is being used correctly in speech is to replace it with a synonym, or a similar word, for example, «legendary.» Does the replacement not hurt your ears and does not look comical? So the word sounds appropriate. For example, the «legendary battle».

If the expression is far-fetched, for example “legendary fun”, then the context is not the right one. The phrase sounds rather fake and stupid.

Context

Most often, in context when using the word, it traces a general meaning — it should emphasize the scale of an event, action or object. The most epic meanings are easily embedded in relation to great works of art. It can be a painting by an artist, a great musical symphony, a poem, or even a theatrical performance. And the word form emphasizes the importance of the evaluated work.

By the way, the word «epic» is also used in a sarcastic context. Giving a similar assessment, for example, to an object of contemporary art or innovation in decor, a person emphasizes the excessive pretentiousness and excessive bombast of what he saw. In the case of sarcasm, the word is also appropriate to apply to the “great” author of a mediocre work. It emphasizes the intentional redundancy of something or the absolute lack of meaning in it.

Thus, a variety of word forms from the adverb «epic» have entered modern speech, advertising, slang and computer games, many of which have no common meanings with its historical meaning, are in no way connected by Ancient Greece, a kind of literature and myths.

But any word requires careful attitude, thoughtful and appropriate use. Otherwise, it will only cause ridicule and emphasize the lack of education of the narrator.

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

Asked by: Nick Labadie

Score: 4.7/5
(44 votes)

1 : a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero the Iliad and the Odyssey are epics. 2 : a work of art (such as a novel or drama) that resembles or suggests an epic.

What was the original meaning of epic?

What does epic person mean?

It means that something is awesome,great,unforgettable. But only when used as slang.

How can a person be epic?

Being epic means you don’t stop until you’re satisfied; that you do not harbor regrets of what could have been. You never ask yourself what if. Being epic is an attitude. Being epic means being the best you can be with the resources, knowledge and experience you have at the moment.

What is epic in simple words?

1 : a long narrative poem in elevated style recounting the deeds of a legendary or historical hero the Iliad and the Odyssey are epics. 2 : a work of art (such as a novel or drama) that resembles or suggests an epic.

21 related questions found

You’ve likely described something as epic before, but do you actually know what the term epic means? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. 

In this post, we’re exploring the word epic to discover its definition, origin, synonyms, and antonyms. We’ll also go over a few usage examples to help you feel comfortable using the term in a sentence.

Let’s get started! 

What Is the Definition of Epic?

If you know epic as a slang word used to describe something that’s unbelievably awesome, you may be surprised to learn that the primary meaning of the term actually pertains to a long poetic composition.

Don’t believe us? Check out these definitions provided by a few trusted dictionaries listed below:

• According to the Cambridge Dictionary, an epic is a movie, book, or poem that is quite lengthy and contains a lot of action, usually dealing with a historical subject. 

• Lexico Dictionary defines an epic as a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the adventures and deeds of heroic or legendary figures. 

• The Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries says epic is a long poem about the actions of great men and women or about a nation’s history. 

After reviewing the listed definitions, we can conclude that when used as a noun, the term epic refers to a long narrative poem in an elevated style that recounts the deeds of a legendary or historical hero. 

Despite originally earning its place in the English language as a noun, epic is commonly used today as an adjective to describe something that’s historically important, complex, or very impressive. 

What Is the Origin of Epic?

Pertaining to or constituting a long heroic poem, “epic” derived from Middle French épique or directly from Latin epicus, from Ancient Greek epikos (ἐπικός), from ἔπος (épos, meaning word or story). 

As mentioned, the term was originally used to describe long stories that featured tales of gods, monsters, philosophical elements, and historical events. 

It’s not quite clear when epic began to appear in the English language to describe something that wasn’t a story or poem, but its use has been documented for hundreds of years. 

Today, the term epic is frequently used in a highly colloquial fashion, in a manner that is largely synonymous with fabulous, impressive, or outstanding.

Antonyms and Synonyms of Epic

To strengthen your understanding of the word epic, it can be helpful to learn its synonyms and antonyms. 

Simply put, a synonym is a word that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, whereas antonyms are words with opposite meanings. 

Synonyms of epic include:

• Gallant
• Grand
• Grandiose
• Heroic
• Long poem
• Adventure
• Chronicle
• Homeric
• Novel
• Proud
• Tale
• Saga
• Regal
• Royal
• Splendid
• Monumental
• Majestic
• Noble
• Legend
• Narrative

Antonyms of epic include:

• Unimposing
• Underwhelming
• Unimpressive
• Humble
• Modest
• Unimportant
• Limerick
• Unheroic
• Ordinary
• Short story
• Trivial
• Petty
• Measly
• Novella
• Novelette

Examples of Epic in a Sentence 

Now that you understand what epic means, let’s review a few example sentences:

I wrote an epic poem last year that was anything but ordinary.

If you ask me, two great epics in English are Paradise Lost and Beowulf.

If you’re looking for something to read, the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid are some great epics from world literature. 

Gaining muscle last year was such an epic struggle.

I am currently writing an epic that celebrates the feats of a deity and a demigod.

What started off as an epic voyage ended in an unfortunate tragedy.

My sister’s after-prom party was epic.

Bob said Homer’s Iliad is an epic poem that I need to read as soon as possible.

Did you know that epic is a genre of narrative?

Last week’s episode had an epic battle with a superhero — it was EPIC!

If you want to celebrate heroic feats and achievements, consider writing an epic.

Besides my epic fail at completing my homework tonight, it was an extremely relaxing evening.

Despite their epic failures, many undeserving CEOs are paid salaries and bonuses in the millions.

The old lady sitting up front let out an epic burp.

When she starts reciting epic poetry in French, it’s rather overwhelming.

Recap

So, what does epic mean, you ask?

Derived from the Greek word epikos which means “a word, song, or speech,” epic refers to a long narrative that is elevated and dignified in theme, tone, and style. 

As a literary term, an epic celebrates heroic deeds and historically important events, usually focusing on the adventures of a hero who is often superhuman (like a superhere) or divine (like a deity). 

There are many wonderful epics, but the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid are arguably the most well-known in western world literature.

In addition to its use as a noun, the term epic can also be used as an adjective to describe something that’s unbelievably awesome. For example, when describing your fun-filled summer vacation from last year, you might say it was… epic.

To discover more interesting words, check out our website where you’ll also find helpful grammar tools, useful tips and more!

Sources:

1. EPIC definition | the Cambridge English Dictionary
2. EPIC English Definition and Meaning | Lexico.com
3. Epic | Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 
4. Epic | Academy of American Poets

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