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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ep·i·thet

Audio Help [ep-uh-thet] Pronunciation Key

–noun

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 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.”

3.	a word, phrase, or expression used invectively as a term of abuse or contempt, to express hostility, etc.

[Origin: 1570–80; < L epitheton epithet, adjective < Gk epítheton epithet, something added, equiv. to epi- epi- + the- (var. s. of tithénai to put) + -ton neut. verbid suffix

]

—Related forms

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

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
epithet

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ep·i·thet Audio Help (ěp'ə-thět') Pronunciation Key
n.

1. A term used to characterize a person or thing, such as rosy-fingered in rosy-fingered dawn or the Great in Catherine the Great.
2. A term used as a descriptive substitute for the name or title of a person, such as The Great Emancipator for Abraham Lincoln.
An abusive or contemptuous word or phrase.
Biology A word in the scientific name of an animal or plant following the name of the genus and denoting a species, variety, or other division of the genus, as sativa in Lactuca sativa.

[Latin epitheton, from Greek, neuter of epithetos, added, attributed, from epitithenai, epithe-, to add to : epi-, epi- + tithenai, to place; see dhē- in Indo-European roots.]

ep'i·thet'ic, ep'i·thet'i·cal adj.

Usage Note: Strictly speaking, an epithet need not be derogatory, but the term is commonly used as a simple synonym for term of abuse or slur, as in There is no place for racial epithets in a police officer's vocabulary. This usage is accepted by 80 percent of the Usage Panel.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
epithet

1579, "descriptive name for a person or thing," from L. from Gk. epitheton, adj. often used as n., from neut. of epithetos "attributed, added," from epitithenai "to add on," from epi- "in addition" + tithenai "to put," from PIE base *dhe- "to put, to do" (see factitious).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

epithet
noun
1.	a defamatory or abusive word or phrase [syn: name]
2.	descriptive word or phrase

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry: ep·i·thet
Pronunciation: 'ep-&-"thet also -th&t
Function: noun
: the part of a scientific name identifying the species, variety, or other subunit within a genus —see SPECIFIC EPITHET

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Epithet

Ep"i*them\, n. [L. epithema, Gr. ?, fr. ? to lay or put on: cf. F. ['e]pith[`e]me. See Epithet.] (Med.) Any external topical application to the body, except ointments and plasters, as a poultice, lotion, etc.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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 person or thing; as, a just man; a verdant lawn.

A prince [Henry III.] to whom the epithet "worthless" seems best applicable. --Hallam.

2. Term; expression; phrase. "Stiffed with epithets of war." --Shak.

Syn: Epithet, Title.

Usage: The name epithet was formerly extended to nouns which give a title or describe character (as the "epithet of liar"), but is now confined wholly to adjectives. Some rhetoricians, as Whately, restrict it still further, considering the term epithet as belonging only to a limited class of adjectives, viz., those which add nothing to the sense of their noun, but simply hold forth some quality necessarily implied therein; as, the bright sun, the lofty heavens, etc. But this restriction does not prevail in general literature. Epithet is sometimes confounded with application, which is always a noun or its equivalent.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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 person or thing; as, a just man; a verdant lawn.

A prince [Henry III.] to whom the epithet "worthless" seems best applicable. --Hallam.

2. Term; expression; phrase. "Stiffed with epithets of war." --Shak.

Syn: Epithet, Title.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Epithet

Ep"i*thet\, v. t. To describe by an epithet. [R.]

Never was a town better epitheted. --Sir H. Wotton.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Epithet

Ep`i*tith"i*des\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? to place upon. See Epithet.] (Arch.) The uppermost member of the cornice of an entablature.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Epithet

The"sis\, n.; pl. Theses. [L., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? to place, set. See Do, and cf. Anathema, Apothecary, Epithet, Hypothesis, Parenthesis, Theme, Tick a cover.]

1. A position or proposition which a person advances and offers to maintain, or which is actually maintained by argument.

2. Hence, an essay or dissertation written upon specific or definite theme; especially, an essay presented by a candidate for a diploma or degree.

I told them of the grave, becoming, and sublime deportment they should assume upon this mystical occasion, and read them two homilies and a thesis of my own composing, to prepare them. --Goldsmith.

3. (Logic) An affirmation, or distinction from a supposition or hypothesis.

4. (Mus.) The accented part of the measure, expressed by the downward beat; -- the opposite of arsis.

5. (Pros.) (a) The depression of the voice in pronouncing the syllables of a word. (b) The part of the foot upon which such a depression falls.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

epithet

Ti"tle\, n. [OF. title, F. titre, L. titulus an inscription, label, title, sign, token. Cf. Tilde, Titrate, Titular.]

1. An inscription put over or upon anything as a name by which it is known.

2. The inscription in the beginning of a book, usually containing the subject of the work, the author's and publisher's names, the date, etc.

3. (Bookbindng) The panel for the name, between the bands of the back of a book.

4. A section or division of a subject, as of a law, a book, specif. (Roman & Canon Laws), a chapter or division of a law book.

5. An appellation of dignity, distinction, or pre["e]minence (hereditary or acquired), given to persons, as duke marquis, honorable, esquire, etc.

With his former title greet Macbeth. --Shak.

6. A name; an appellation; a designation.

7. (Law) (a) That which constitutes a just cause of exclusive possession; that which is the foundation of ownership of property, real or personal; a right; as, a good title to an estate, or an imperfect title. (b) The instrument which is evidence of a right. (c) (Canon Law) That by which a beneficiary holds a benefice.

8. (Anc. Church Records) A church to which a priest was ordained, and where he was to reside.

Title deeds (Law), the muniments or evidences of ownership; as, the title deeds to an estate.

Syn: Epithet; name; appellation; denomination. See epithet, and Name.

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