epithet

[ ep-uh-thet ]

See synonyms for: epithet epithetical 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.: He demeans his female employees by addressing them with sexist epithets.
Botany, Zoology. specific epithet.

Origin of epithet

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin epitheton “adjective; word used attributively,” from Greek epítheton “something added, adjective, epithet,” derivative of epitithénai “to place upon, put upon,” equivalent to epi- + the- (variant stem of tithénai “to put, place”) + -ton neuter participle suffix; see epi-

Other words for epithet

1, 2	nickname, sobriquet, designation, appellation
3	curse, insult, abuse, expletive, obscenity

See synonyms for epithet on Thesaurus.com

Other words from epithet

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

Words that may be confused with epithet

epigram, epigraph, epitaph, epithet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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

Origin of epithet

C16: from Latin epitheton, from Greek, from epitithenai to add, from tithenai to put

Derived forms of epithet

epithetic or epithetical, adjective

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

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