Definition of "epithet" in English

noun

1. A term used to characterize a person or thing.

2. (mythology) A term used as a qualifier of the name of a deity in order to designate said deity in a particular aspect or role.

3. A term used as a descriptive substitute for the name or title of a person.

4. One of many formulaic words or phrases used in the Iliad and Odyssey to characterize a person, a group of people, or a thing.

5. An abusive or contemptuous word or phrase.

6. (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.

verb

1. (transitive) To term; to refer to as.

   • He was epitheted "the king of fools".