/ ˈepɪθet; NAmE / noun
1.
an adjective or phrase that is used to describe sb/sth's character or most important quality, especially in order to give praise or criticism :
The film is long and dramatic but does not quite earn the epithet 'epic'.
2.
( especially NAmE ) an offensive word or phrase that is used about a person or group of people :
Racial epithets were scrawled on the walls.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent.: from French épithète , or via Latin from Greek epitheton , neuter of epithetos attributed, from epitithenai add, from epi upon + tithenai to place.