epithet
[ep-uh-thet]
- 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.
- a characterizing word or phrase firmly associated with a person or thing and often used in place of an actual name, title, or the like, as “man's best friend” for “dog.”
- a word, phrase, or expression used invectively as a term of abuse or contempt, to express hostility, etc.
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Origin of epithet
1570–80; < Latin epitheton epithet, adjective < Greek epítheton epithet, something added, equivalent to epi- epi- + the- (variant stem of tithénai to put) + -ton neuter verbid suffix
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for epithet
Contemporary Examples
When they get on the road, they find their place of birth is now an epithet.
It is very common for conservatives to use “latte-sipping” as an epithet.
Finally the epithet of "deathless" gets some explanation, stemming from Golovan's fearless ministrations during a plague.
Michael Clarke Duncan did not like the epithet “gentle giant.”
Who knows, because he waves away the entire discussion with the epithet “grotesque.”
Historical Examples
But such an epithet will not long apply to our favourite town.
The Roof of FranceMatilda Betham-Edwards
As we go swiftly on we realize the appropriateness of the epithet ever applied to the Rhne.
The Roof of FranceMatilda Betham-Edwards
Alderling repeated in a tone of amaze at the inadequacy of my epithet.
Questionable ShapesWilliam Dean Howells
The epithet "hugged in," which Hetty had used, was the very phrase to best convey it.
Hetty's Strange HistoryAnonymous
These persons she stigmatizes with the epithet of tideless-blooded.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
epithet
- a descriptive word or phrase added to or substituted for a person's name"Lackland" is an epithet for King John
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin epitheton, from Greek, from epitithenai to add, from tithenai to put
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for epithet
n.
1570s, "descriptive name for a person or thing," from Middle French épithète or directly from Latin epitheton, from Greek epitheton "something added," adjective often used as noun, from neuter of epithetos "attributed, added," from epitithenai "to add on," from epi "in addition" (see epi-) + tithenai "to put" (see factitious).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper