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EPITHET
EPITHET.
1. An expression added to a NAME as a characterizing description, before it in glorious Devon, after it in Richard Crookback, with a definite article in William the Conqueror, Scotland the Brave. 2. Also Homeric epithet, poetic epithet. A formulaic phrase containing an adjective and a noun, common in epic poetry: grey-eyed Athene, rosy-fingered dawn, the wine-dark sea. 3. A word or phrase that substitutes for another: man's best friend for dog, the water of life for whisky. 4. A word or phrase used to abuse and dismiss: bastard, bugger, shit, especially when used directly (You shit!, You son of a bitch!) or as a description (The silly old cow!). 5. Such a phrase as that idiot of a lawyer and a devil of a doctor. 6. An adjective or other descriptive word. See ANTONOMASIA, SWEARING. |
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TOM McARTHUR. "EPITHET." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. TOM McARTHUR. "EPITHET." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-EPITHET.html TOM McARTHUR. "EPITHET." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-EPITHET.html |
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epithet
ep·i·thet / ˈepəˌ[unvoicedth]et/ • n. an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned: old men are often unfairly awarded the epithet “dirty.” ∎ such a word or phrase as a term of abuse: he felt an urge to hurl epithets in his face. ∎ a descriptive title: the epithet “Father of Waters,” poetically used for the Mississippi River. DERIVATIVES: ep·i·thet·ic / epəˈ[unvoicedth]etik/ adj. |
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Cite this article
"epithet." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "epithet." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-epithet.html "epithet." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-epithet.html |
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epithet
epithet XVI. — F. épithète or L. epitheton, sb. use of n. of Gr. epíthetos attributed, pp. adj. of epitithénai put on or to, f. EPI- + tithénai place.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "epithet." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "epithet." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-epithet.html T. F. HOAD. "epithet." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-epithet.html |
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epithet
epithet
•dragnet • Fastnet • telnet • hairnet
•keepnet • driftnet • fishnet • jaconet
•alkanet • Intranet • Ethernet
•aigrette • asset • handset • headset
•hic jacet, placet
•preset, teaset
•filmset
•inset, twinset
•videlicet • scilicet • mindset • typeset
•offset • onset • outset • photoset
•moonset • subset • sunset • upset
•Somerset • Exocet • avocet
•trebuchet • epithet • Tevet
•marmoset
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Cite this article
"epithet." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "epithet." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-epithet.html "epithet." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-epithet.html |
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