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Webster 1913 Edition

Epithet

Ep′i-thet

,
Noun.
[L.
epitheton
, Gr. [GREEK], fr. [GREEK] added, fr. [GREEK] to add;
ἐπί
upon, to + [GREEK] to put, place: cf. F.
épithète
. See
Do
.]
1.
An adjective expressing some quality, attribute, or relation, that is properly or specially appropriate to a person or thing;
as, a
just
man; a
verdant
lawn
.
A prince [Henry III.] to whom the
epithet
“worthless” seems best applicable.
Hallam.
Syn. –
Epithet
,
Title
.
The name epithet was formerly extended to nouns which give a title or describe character (as the “epithet of liar”), but is now confined wholly to adjectives. Some rhetoricians, as Whately, restrict it still further, considering the term epithet as belonging only to a limited class of adjectives, viz., those which add nothing to the sense of their noun, but simply hold forth some quality necessarily implied therein;
as, the
bright
sun, the
lofty
heavens, etc.
But this restriction does not prevail in general literature. Epithet is sometimes confounded with application, which is always a noun or its equivalent.

Ep′i-thet

,
Verb.
T.
To describe by an epithet.
[R.]

Webster 1828 Edition

Epithet

EP'ITHET

,
Noun.
[Gr. a name added; to place.] An adjective expressing some real quality of the thing to which it is applied, or an attributive expressing some quality ascribed to it; as a verdant lawn; a brilliant appearance; a just man; an accurate description.
It is sometimes used for title, name, phrase or expression; but improperly.

EP'ITHET

v,t, To entitle; to describe by epithets.

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