English Reference
noun · verb

epilogue

n. · v.
US /ˈɛpəˌɫɔɡ/ UK /ˈɛpɪlˌɒɡ/ epi·logue UK spelling epilog, epilogued, epilogues, epiloguing

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Literary

    n.a final section at the end of a story that gives more information about what happens after the main events.

    n.a concluding part of a literary work or film, often used to provide closure or reveal the ultimate fates of the characters.

    Simple

    The epilogue explained that the two main characters eventually got married and moved to France.

    In context

    In the novel's epilogue, the author fast-forwards twenty years to show how the protagonist's early decisions shaped his children's lives.

    afterwordpostscriptcoda
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal Theatre

    n.a short speech given by an actor directly to the audience at the end of a play.

    n.a short speech, often in verse, delivered by an actor at the conclusion of a dramatic performance.

    Simple

    The actor stepped forward to deliver a witty epilogue before the curtains closed.

    In context

    Shakespearean epilogues often involve the performer asking the audience for their applause and forgiveness for any shortcomings in the play.

    closing speech
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Technical Computing

    n.a small part of a computer program that cleans up and finishes a task before moving to the next one.

    n.a sequence of instructions at the end of a subroutine that restores the machine state and returns control to the calling program.

    Simple

    The function's epilogue ensures that the memory is cleared before the program continues.

    In context

    The compiler generates a standard epilogue for every function to pop the stack and restore the previous frame pointer.

    exit sequence
  4. 04 C2 Proficiency FormalLiterary

    v.to finish a story or a piece of writing with a final section.

    v.to provide or conclude a work with an epilogue.

    Simple

    The author chose to epilogue the biography with a reflection on the subject's lasting influence.

    In context

    The documentary was epilogued by a series of title cards detailing the legal changes that occurred after the filming ended.


From French épilogue, from Latin epilogus, from Ancient Greek ἐπίλογος (epílogos, “a conclusion, peroration of a speech, epilogue of a play”), from ἐπιλέγω (epilégō, “to say in addition”). Eclipsed Middle English lenvoie (“epilogue”) borrowed ultimately from Old French. Equiavlent to epi- + -logue.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated