Etymology Map
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Epic

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a long heroic poem; grand or impressive in scale

Where does the word "epic" come from? It comes from Greek epikos, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
epikos
Greek · ancient
"relating to heroic verse"
from 'epos', word or song; Homer's Iliad and Odyssey were the models
2
Stage 2 of 3
epicus
Latin · ancient
"epic"
Virgil's Aeneid took up the Greek form
3
Stage 3 of 3
epic
English · 1500s
"a long heroic poem; grand"
since the 1980s, casual slang for anything impressive
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Read the full story

Epic’s story begins in Greek: epikos meant “relating to heroic verse.” From 'epos', word or song; Homer's Iliad and Odyssey were the models. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as epicus. Virgil's Aeneid took up the Greek form. It reached English by 1500s as epic. Since the 1980s, casual slang for anything impressive. Today, epic means a long heroic poem; grand or impressive in scale.