Etymology of the French word epitaphe
the Old French word epitaphe
derived from the Latin word epitaphium (funeral oration)
derived from the Greek word epitaphion
derived from the Greek word epitaphios, ἐπιτάφιος
using the Greek prefix epi-, ἐπι-
derived from the Byzantine Greek word epi, ἐπί (upon; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case); over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.)
derived from the Greek word taphos, τάφος (a grave (the place of interment))