[ep.i.thet] n [L epitheton, fr. Gk, fr. neut. of epithetos added, fr. epitithenai to put on, add, fr. epi- + tithenai to put--more at do] (1579) 1 a: a characterizing word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing b: a disparaging or abusive word or phrase c: the part of a taxonomic name identifying a subordinate unit within a genus
2. obs: expression -- ep.i.thet.ic or ep.i.thet.i.cal adj