epithet
11epithet — strictly speaking, describes a word or phrase that is used in place of a name. Calling Tarzan King of the Jungle is to employ an epithet. More commonly nowadays, however, epithet is used to describe an abusive or contemptuous utterance. A few… …
12epithet — n. a harsh, offensive, vile epithet * * * [ epɪθet] offensive vile epithet a harsh …
13epithet — [[t]e̱pɪθet[/t]] epithets N COUNT: usu with supp An epithet is an adjective or short phrase which is used as a way of criticizing or praising someone. [FORMAL] ...the religious issue which led to the epithet bible basher …
14epithet — UK [ˈepɪθet] / US [ˈepɪˌθet] noun [countable] Word forms epithet : singular epithet plural epithets a) a word or phrase that describes the main quality of someone or something b) mainly American an offensive or insulting name for someone racial… …
15epithet — ep•i•thet [[t]ˈɛp əˌθɛt[/t]] n. 1) a characterizing word or phrase added to or used in place of the name of a person or thing 2) a word, phrase, or expression used invectively as a term of abuse or contempt • Etymology: 1570–80; < L epitheton… …
16epithet — Characterizing term or name. [G. epithetos, added, fr. epi + tithemi, to place] specific e. in bacteriology, the second part of the name of a species; it is not, by itself, a name; the name of a bacterial species consists of two parts, the… …
17epithet — ep|i|thet [ˈepıθet] n [Date: 1500 1600; : Latin; Origin: epitheton, from Greek, from epitithenai to put on, add ] a word or short phrase used to describe someone, especially when praising them or saying something unpleasant about them ▪ He hardly …
18epithet — [16] Etymologically, an epithet is a word that is ‘put on’ to or ‘added’ to another. The term comes from Greek epítheton, which meant literally ‘addition’, but was used by Greek grammarians for ‘adjective’. It was a derivative of epitithénai ‘put …
19epithet — noun (C) an adjective or short phrase used to describe someone, especially when praising or blaming them: He hardly deserves the epithet fascist …
20epithet — noun Marion is better known by his epithet, the Swamp Fox Syn: sobriquet, nickname, byname, title, name, label, tag; description, designation; informal moniker, handle; formal appellation, denomination …
