'Epithet' definitions:
Definition of 'epithet'
From: WordNet
Definition of 'Epithet'
From: GCIDE
- Epithet \Ep"i*thet\, v. t. To describe by an epithet. [R.] [1913 Webster]
- Never was a town better epitheted. --Sir H. Wotton. Epithetic
Definition of 'Epithet'
From: GCIDE
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- A prince [Henry III.] to whom the epithet "worthless" seems best applicable. --Hallam. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Term; expression; phrase. "Stuffed 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. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'epithet'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abuse,
- appellation,
- appellative,
- binomen,
- binomial name,
- blackguard,
- byword,
- call names,
- catchword,
- cognomen,
- cryptonym,
- curse,
- cuss,
- cuss out,
- cuss word,
- damn,
- denomination,
- designation,
- device,
- dirty name,
- dirty word,
- dysphemism,
- empty title,
- epigraph,
- epithetize,
- eponym,
- euonym,
- expletive,
- foul invective,
- handle,
- honorific,
- hyponym,
- inscription,
- label,
- moniker,
- motto,
- name,
- namesake,
- naughty word,
- no-no,
- nomen,
- nomen nudum,
- oath,
- obscenity,
- profane oath,
- proper name,
- proper noun,
- revile,
- scientific name,
- secret name,
- slogan,
- style,
- swear at,
- swearword,
- tag,
- tag line,
- tautonym,
- title,
- trinomen,
- trinomial name,
- vilify,
- vituperate,
- watchword