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epithetan adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality or attribute regarded as characteristic of the person or thing mentioned

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality or attribute regarded as characteristic of the person or thing mentioned

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈepɪθet/

Example Sentences

  • My brother's epithet 'human garbage disposal' comes from his ability to finish everyone's leftovers.
  • The teacher warned students not to use epithets when they got frustrated during the exam.
  • Shakespeare's 'Bard of Avon' is probably the most famous literary epithet in English.

epithet

NOUN

[/ˈepɪθet/]

an adjective or descriptive phrase expressing a quality or attribute regarded as characteristic of the person or thing mentioned

The knight earned the epithet 'Lionheart' after his fearless charge in battle.
💡 Concept

The knight earned the epithet 'Lionheart' after his fearless charge in battle.

Epi's theft of descriptive labels - stealing epithets for every trait!
🧠 Mnemonic

Epi's theft of descriptive labels - stealing epithets for every trait!

The cadet learns his epithet through the alphabet!
🎵 Rhyme

The cadet learns his epithet through the alphabet!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈepɪθet/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈepɪθet/

🌳Etymology

Prefixepi--
Rootthet

Origin

From Greek 'epithet' (epitheton), derived from 'epi' (upon) and 'tithenai' (to place or put). The word originally referred to something added or attributed to a name or person.

Breakdown

epi- (upon/added) + tithenai (to place/put) + -et (noun suffix) = epithet (a descriptive term placed upon someone or something)

🎵Rhyme

alphabetcadetduet
alphabet
cadet
duet

🔗Collocations

racial epithet
hurled epithets
derogatory epithet
earn an epithet
classical epithet

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My brother's epithet 'human garbage disposal' comes from his ability to finish everyone's leftovers.

The teacher warned students not to use epithets when they got frustrated during the exam.

Shakespeare's 'Bard of Avon' is probably the most famous literary epithet in English.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

nicknamelabeldesignationmonikersobriquet

Antonyms

proper nameformal title

Related

adjectivedescriptorcharacterizationappellation

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