epigone

ep•i•gone (EP-uh-gohn)  n

Definition:
1. an inferior imitator, especially of some distinguished writer, artist, musician, or philosopher.
2. a follower or disciple

epigonism noun; epigonic, epigonous adjective

Origin:
1865; from Gk. epigonoi, in classical use with reference to the sons of the Seven who warred against Thebes; plural of epigonos “born afterward” from epi  + -gonos, from root of gignesthai “to be born” related to genos "race, birth, descent"

Related:
Synonyms: imitator, disciple
Related Words: genus

Sentence Examples:
• They only started the notion of an epigone-age in order to secure peace for themselves, and to be able to reject all the efforts of disturbing innovators summarily as the work of epigones. -Thoughts out of Season, Friedrich Nietzsche

• Violent to exaggeration in composition, morbidly mystic, there are power and emotional quality revealed in his work; above all else he anticipated Velasquez in his use of cool gray tones, and as a pupil or at least a disciple of Titian he is, as his latest biographer, Señor Manuel B. Cossio, names him, "the last epigone of the Italian Renaissance." -Promenades of an Impressionist, James Huneker
 
• Allende is not just an epigone of Garcia Marquez. Writing in the tradition of Latin America's magic realists, she has a singular talent for producing full- scale representational portraits with comic surreal touches. -Time, 1985

The Storyline
Routine completed, Anna pulled out her notebook to review her notes for her all-in-progress novel she'd never really started in earnest. Having spent so long drinking in great literature, she couldn't shake the feeling that anything she might create would be only an epigone of her favorite works.

Sources: Dictionary.com, Wiktionary, Online Etymology

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