epics

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   long narrative poems, usually about heroes and great deeds, passed down from the ancient or medieval world.

   Grammar: Plural of epic; singular is an epic: the Iliad is an epic, but Greek epics are many.

   Patterns

   • epics of somewhere
   • epics about someone

   We studied Greek epics in our first term of literature.

   Many early epics were recited aloud rather than written down.

   Her thesis compares epics from India and ancient Greece.

2. 2nounplural

   long, grand films, novels or stories that cover big events and often feature battles or journeys.

   Grammar: Often modified by a genre word: historical epics, space epics.

   Patterns

   • a fan of epics
   • historical epics

   My uncle loves historical epics with huge battle scenes.

   Fantasy epics usually run to several volumes.

   The studio is known for producing sweeping epics that last over three hours.

3. 3nounpluraltechnicalbusiness

   in software teams, large pieces of work that are divided into smaller tasks.

   Grammar: Used in project planning: the plan lists three epics.

   Patterns

   • break epics into stories

   The team grouped the new features into three epics for the quarter.

   Each of the epics was split into smaller tasks.

   Managers review the epics before each sprint begins.

Common combinations

Greek epics

Greek epics often begin by asking a muse for inspiration.

historical epics

Historical epics are expensive because of the costumes and crowds.

fantasy epics

She reads fantasy epics on long train journeys.

Hollywood epics

Hollywood epics from the 1950s used thousands of extras.

national epics

Many countries trace their identity to national epics.

Synonyms and how they differ

sagas

Sagas usually follow the history of a family or people over time, whereas epics stress grand heroic scale.

legends

Legends are traditional stories that may be short, but epics are long and structured as full works.

blockbusters

Blockbusters are defined by commercial success, not by length or heroic theme as epics are.

Word family

epic noun

a single long heroic poem or grand story

epic adjective

grand in scale, or informally, impressive

epically adverb

in a grand or impressive way

epic poetry noun

verse that tells a long heroic story

Commonly confused: epics or epochs?

Practice

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