epigone

epigone

See also: épigone and Epigone

English

Etymology

From French épigones, from Latin epigonī, from Ancient Greek ἐπίγονοι (epígonoi), plural form of ἐπίγονος (epígonos, “born after”), from ἐπιγίγνομαι (epigígnomai, “I come after”), from ἐπί (epí, “upon”), from γίγνομαι (gígnomai, “I become”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɛpɨɡəʊn/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɛpɨɡoʊn/, /ˈɛpɨɡɑn/

Noun

epigone (plural epigones)

1. A follower or disciple.
   • 2013 May 11, “What a waste”, in The Economist‎, volume 407, number 8835, page 12:

     India is run by gerontocrats and epigones: grey hairs and groomed heirs.

2. An undistinguished or inferior imitator of a well known artist or their style.

   Synonym: imitator

   • 1992, Stephen Jay Gould Bully for Brontosaurus

     While Shaler remained subordinate, he followed Agassiz’s intellectual lead, often with the epigone’s habit of exaggerating his master’s voice.

   • 2000, China Miéville Perdido Street Station

     In another twist to the myth, his Head of Department, the ageless and loathsome Vermishank, was not a plodding epigone but an exceptional bio-thaumaturge.

Derived terms

• epigonality
• epigonic
• epigonism

Translations

follower, disciple

Dutch: epigoon (nl) m

German: Epigone (de) m, Epigonin f Italian: epigono (it), epigona f

imitator of artist or style

Czech: epigon m German: Epigone (de) m, Epigonin f

Italian: epigono (it) m, epigona f Swedish: epigon (sv) c

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Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /eˈpiːɡɔne/

Noun

epigone f

1. plural of epigona

Anagrams

• piogene