好词典

epic

UK //ˈep.ɪk//US //ˈep.ɪk//

词源

源自拉丁语 'epicus',借自希腊语 'epikos',与 'epos'(意为'词语、故事')相关。16世纪进入英语,最初特指史诗体裁,后引申为形容词用法。

noun

❶ 指篇幅宏大、情节壮阔的叙事诗或故事,通常描述英雄事迹或历史事件,如《伊利亚特》等古典作品。

“Homer's Iliad is one of the greatest epics in Western literature.”

(荷马的《伊利亚特》是西方文学中最伟大的史诗之一。)

“The Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic that tells the story of a great war.”

(《摩诃婆罗多》是一部讲述伟大战争的古印度史诗。)

同义词:saga, legend, chronicle

adjective

❶ 形容事物规模宏大、气势磅礴或具有史诗般的壮丽感,常用于描述电影、冒险或成就。

“The battle scenes in the movie were truly epic in scale.”

(电影中的战斗场面规模宏大,堪称史诗级。)

“Their journey across the continent was an epic adventure.”

(他们横跨大陆的旅程是一次史诗般的冒险。)

同义词:grand, heroic, monumental

常见短语

epic fail — 网络流行语,形容极其明显的失败或尴尬场面,常带有幽默意味。

“When he tripped and spilled coffee all over his boss, it was an epic fail.”

(当他绊倒并把咖啡洒在老板身上时,那真是史诗级的尴尬场面。)

epic proportions — 形容某事物达到异常巨大的规模或程度,强调其非同寻常的特质。

“The environmental disaster reached epic proportions within days.”

(这场环境灾难在几天内就达到了惊人的规模。)