epithet

3 synonyms for epithet, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A word or phrase used to describe what a person or thing is like.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

name

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

byname cognomen

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A word or phrase used to describe what a person or thing is like.

name

2. noun

A word added to a god's name to show which particular aspect or role is meant.

byname

3. noun

A descriptive phrase used in place of someone's actual name or title.

byname cognomen

Etymology

Came into English from Middle French épithète, from Latin epithetum, epitheton, from Ancient Greek ἐπίθετον (epítheton, “epithet, adjective”), the neuter of ἐπίθετος (epíthetos, “additional”). That in turn came from ἐπιτίθημι (epitíthēmi, “to add on”), from ἐπι- (epi-, “in addition”) + τίθημι (títhēmi, “to put”) (a suf...

Full origin of epithet →

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