epænetic

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἐπαινετικός (epainetikós), from ἐπαινέω (epainéō, “I praise”).^[1]

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: ĕpēnĕʹtĭk, IPA^(key): /ɛpiːˈnɛtɪk/

Adjective

epænetic (comparative more epænetic, superlative most epænetic)

1. (rare) Encomiastic; laudatory; panegyrical; praiseful.^[1]
   • 1800, Edward Phillips, Theatrum Poetarum Anglicanorum‎, page xxviii:

     The Epænetic comprehends the hymn, the epithalamium, the genethliacon, or what elſe tends to the praiſe or congratulation of divine, or on earth eminent perſons.

   • 1850, The Quarterly Review, volume 86, pages 416–417:

     How and why Sir Thomas turned author is minutely told by himself. After the battle of Worchester, Sept. 3, 1651, his lodgings were sacked by some ‘ exquisite snaps and clean shavers, who handed over six score and eight quires and a half of his MS. to inferior and posterior uses;’ but happily ‘ one quaternion ’ was picked up in the street, and thence called Ekskubalauron — being ‘ the discovery in the kennel of a most exquisite Jewel, more precious than diamonds inchased in gold, the like whereof was never seen of any;’ a chosen specimen, in short, of his literary ‘ wares, brain‐babes, of far greater value than ever from the East Indies were brought in ships to Europe ’ — its ‘ scope ’ being — as he further explains — partly epænetick, partly doxologetickal.

   • 1919, W. Compton Leith, Domus Doloris, page 199 (John Lane company):

     It called for a very stalker’s skill to catch them off their guard; but there was a charm in the hard pursuit, and the practice of this epænetic became sport.

   • 1969, Edmund Gosse, More Books on the Table‎, page 307:

     The critics enquired whether the poets excelled in “ the Epænitick ” or “ the Bucolick ” style, not whether they achieved beauty of expression or spirituality of thought.