Associations to the word «Epithet»

Wiktionary

EPITHET, noun. A term used to characterize a person or thing.
EPITHET, noun. A term used as a descriptive substitute for the name or title of a person.
EPITHET, noun. An abusive or contemptuous word or phrase.
EPITHET, noun. (taxonomy) A word in the scientific name of a taxon following the name of the genus or species. This applies only to formal names of plants, fungi and bacteria. In formal names of animals the corresponding term is the specific name.

Dictionary definition

EPITHET, noun. A defamatory or abusive word or phrase.
EPITHET, noun. Descriptive word or phrase.

Wise words

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.
Mark Twain