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Symbolize vs Epitomize - What's the difference?

symbolize | epitomize |

As verbs the difference between symbolize and epitomize

is that symbolize is to be symbolic of; to represent while epitomize is to make an epitome of.

symbolize

English

Alternative forms

* symbolise (UK )

Verb

(en-verb)
  • To be symbolic of; to represent.
  • * {{quote-book, year=2006, author=
  • , title=Internal Combustion , chapter=2 citation , passage=The popular late Middle Ages fictional character Robin Hood, dressed in green to symbolize the forest, dodged fines for forest offenses and stole from the rich to give to the poor. But his appeal was painfully real and embodied the struggle over wood.}}
  • To use symbols; to represent ideas symbolically.
  • (obsolete) To resemble each other in qualities or properties; to correspond; to harmonize.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • The pleasing of colour symbolizeth' with the pleasing of any single tone to the ear; but the pleasing of order doth ' symbolize with harmony.
  • * Howell
  • They both symbolize in this, that they love to look upon themselves through multiplying glasses.
  • (obsolete) To hold the same faith; to agree.
  • * G. S. Faber
  • The believers in pretended miracles have always previously symbolized with the performers of them.

    Derived terms

    * nonsymbolizing

    epitomize

    English

    Alternative forms

    * epitomise

    Verb

    (epitomiz)
  • To make an epitome of.
  • To be an epitome of.
  • * 1997 , Michael Moortgat, Categorial Type Logics'', in ''Handbook of Logic and Language , ed. J. van Benthem and A. ter Meulen, p. 99
  • The framework of Combinatory Categorial Grammar epitomizes the rule-based generalized categorial architecture.

    Synonyms

    * sum up

    Derived terms

    * epitomizer * epitomization * epitomistic