Webster's English Dictionary

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epithet

ep.i.thet or ep.i.thet.i.cal \'ep-*-.thet also -th*t\ \.ep-*-'thet-ik\ 
   \-i-k*l\ n [L epitheton, fr. Gk, fr. neut. of epithetos added, fr. 
   epitithe]nai to put on, add, fr. epi- + tithenai to put 1a: a 
   characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of t he 
   name of a person or thing 1b: a disparaging or abusive word or phrase  1c: 
   the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a ge nus 
   obs  2: TERM  - ep.i.thet.i.c aj