epithet
[ ep-uh-thet ]
/ ˈɛp əˌθɛt /
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.
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
OTHER WORDS FROM epithet
ep·i·thet·ic, ep·i·thet·i·cal, adjectiveWords nearby epithet
British Dictionary definitions for epithetical
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 of epithet
epithetic or epithetical, adjectiveWord Origin for epithet
C16: from Latin
epitheton, from Greek, from
epitithenai to add, from
tithenai to put