'epigraphic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'epigraphikos', where 'epi-' meant 'on' and 'graphein' meant 'to write'.

'epigraphikos' passed into Late Latin/Medieval Latin as 'epigraphicus' and then into English as 'epigraphic' (used in scholarly contexts by the 19th century).

Initially it meant 'of or relating to inscriptions written on objects', and over time the sense has remained largely the same while also extending to cover literary epigraphs (quotations used as inscriptions or introductions).