epithet

[ ep-uh-thet ]

/ ˈɛp əˌθɛt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR epithet ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

Nearby words

epithelioma cuniculatum, epitheliomatous, epitheliomuscular, epithelium, epithelization, epithet, epitome, epitomist, epitomize, epitope, epitrachelion

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 FOR epithet

1, 2 nickname, sobriquet, designation, appellation.

3 curse, insult, abuse, expletive, obscenity.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR epithet ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

ep·i·thet·ic, ep·i·thet·i·cal, adjective

Can be confused

epigram epigraph epitaph epithet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for epithet

When they get on the road, they find their place of birth is now an epithet.
Latinos Encounter a New ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Situation in California|Nicolaus Mills|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is very common for conservatives to use “latte-sipping” as an epithet.
The Starbucks Shutdown Petition Is Baloney|Daniel Gross|October 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Finally the epithet of "deathless" gets some explanation, stemming from Golovan's fearless ministrations during a plague.
The Forgotten Russian: The Genius of Nikolai Leskov|Benjamin Lytal|April 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Michael Clarke Duncan did not like the epithet “gentle giant.”
‘Bones’ Creator Hart Hanson on Working with Michael Clarke Duncan|Hart Hanson|September 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Who knows, because he waves away the entire discussion with the epithet “grotesque.”
A Response to Jonathan Rosen|Peter Beinart|April 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
How often are they branded with this epithet of madness and folly?
The Anatomy of Melancholy|Democritus Junior
Attractive, rather than handsome, was the epithet best suited to describe Adeline Mowbray.
Adeline Mowbray|Amelia Alderson Opie
This epithet was commonly used to denote the strongest and liveliest interest in any thing or person, for or against.
Hamlet|William Shakespeare
Had poor Schubart always been in such hands, the epithet 'poor' could never have belonged to him.
The Life of Friedrich Schiller|Thomas Carlyle
Nor is there anything now to be gathered from the traditions at Vienna which justifies the epithet.
The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume I (of 3)|Alexander Wheelock Thayer

British Dictionary definitions for epithet

epithet

/ (ˈɛpɪˌθɛt) /

noun

a descriptive word or phrase added to or substituted for a person's name"Lackland" is an epithet for King John

Derived Forms

epithetic or epithetical, adjective

Word Origin for epithet

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