epithet

epithet
 strictly speaking, describes a word or phrase that is used in place of a name. Calling Tarzan "King of the Jungle" is to employ an epithet. More commonly nowadays, however, epithet is used to describe an abusive or contemptuous utterance. A few authorities disdain this looser usage, but it is accepted now by most dictionaries. Epithet should not be confused with epitaph, which is an inscription on a gravestone or other written memorial to a dead person.

Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors. 2013.

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Synonyms:
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  • Epithet — Ep i*thet, n. [L. epitheton, Gr. ?, fr. ? added, fr. ? to add; epi upon, to + ? to put, place: cf. F. [ e]pith[ e]te. See {Do}.] 1. An adjective expressing some quality, attribute, or relation, that is properly or specially appropriate to a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • epithet — An epithet is an adjective indicating some quality or attribute (good or bad) which the speaker or writer (or the verdict of history) regards as characteristic of a person or thing, eg Charles the Bold, Ethelred the Unready, Philip the Good,… …   Modern English usage

  • Epithet — Ep i*thet, v. t. To describe by an epithet. [R.] [1913 Webster] Never was a town better epitheted. Sir H. Wotton …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • epithet — index blasphemy, call (title), term (expression) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • epithet — 1570s, descriptive name for a person or thing, from M.Fr. épithète or directly from L. epitheton, from Gk. epitheton something added, adjective often used as noun, from neut. of epithetos attributed, added, from epitithenai to add on, from epi in …   Etymology dictionary

  • epithet — [n] nickname appellation, description, designation, name, sobriquet, tag, title; concept 683 …   New thesaurus

  • epithet — ► NOUN ▪ a word or phrase expressing a quality or attribute of the person or thing mentioned. ORIGIN Greek epitheton, from epitithenai add …   English terms dictionary

  • epithet — [ep′ə thet΄, ep′əthət] n. [L epitheton < Gr, lit., that which is added < epitithenai, to put on, add < epi , on + tithenai, to put, DO1] 1. an adjective, noun, or phrase, often specif. a disparaging one, used to characterize some person… …   English World dictionary

  • Epithet — An epithet (from Greek ἐπίθετον epitheton , neut. of ἐπίθετος epithetos , attributed, added [ [http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2339438 Epithetos, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek… …   Wikipedia

  • epithet — epithetic, epithetical, adj. /ep euh thet /, n. 1. any word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe an actual or attributed quality: Richard the Lion Hearted is an epithet of Richard I. 2. a characterizing word or phrase firmly… …   Universalium

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