epithet

Definition

A descriptive word or phrase that characterizes or identifies a person or thing, often becoming closely associated with them. Epithets can be complimentary, insulting, or simply identifying, and appear frequently in literature and rhetoric.

Example Usage

Homer frequently used the epithet 'rosy-fingered' to describe the dawn in the Iliad.

Origin

From Greek 'epitheton,' literally 'added' or 'attributed to,' from 'epi' (upon) and 'tithenai' (to place).

Fun Fact

Many famous historical figures are remembered as much by their epithets as their names: 'Alexander the Great,' 'Ivan the Terrible,' and 'Frederick the Wise' are defined partly by these descriptors.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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