epigone

[ ep-i-gohn ]

noun

1. an undistinguished imitator, follower, or successor of an important writer, painter, etc.

epigone

/ ˈɛpɪˌɡəʊn; ˈɛpɪˌɡɒn /

noun

1. rare.
   an inferior follower or imitator

Other Words From

• ep·i·gon·ic [ep-i-, gon, -ik], adjective
• e·pig·o·nism [ih-, pig, -, uh, -niz-, uh, m, e-, pig, -, ep, -, uh, -goh-niz-im, -gon-iz-], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of epigone¹

First recorded in 1860–65; from Latin epigonus, from Greek epígonos “(one) born afterward,” equivalent to epi- + -gonos, akin to gígnesthai “to be born, become”; epi-

Word History and Origins

Origin of epigone¹

C19: from Greek epigonos one born after, from epigignesthai; see epigene

Example Sentences

Were Lowell nearly as cruel in his rather anodyne and flattering portraits of his literary mentors, friends and epigones, the “Life Among Writers” section of “Memoirs” would be immeasurably more interesting.

From New York Times

Gingrich inspired in his epigones a destructive — or to use a favorite term of his brightest student, “nasty” — style of politics.

From Washington Post

It’s unfair to blame Szeemann for the faults of his epigones.

From The New Yorker

Though Le Corbusier helped master plan the city of Chandigarh in India, and epigones pursued this vision in Cambodia and Sri Lanka, it was Japan that would take up Corbusianism most powerfully.

From New York Times

The closer stylistic juxtaposition would be to Mozart, but Gaveaux is an epigone with little of the Viennese master’s effervescence.

From Washington Post