Epitheted

Epitheted is a term used in linguistics and literary studies to describe something that bears an epithet—an attributive phrase or descriptor attached to a name to convey a characteristic, status, or origin. In scholarly writing, epitheted can indicate that a person, place, or thing is identified by such a traditional label, rather than by a neutral or purely descriptive sentence. For example, a ruler might be described as epitheted as “the Great” in a source, or a city might be referred to in epitheted form with a qualifying nickname.

Etymology: The word epitheted derives from epithet, which comes from Greek epithetos, meaning “added” or “placed upon,” from epi- “upon” + tithenai “to place.”

Usage: Epitheted occurs mainly in academic contexts, such as discussions of naming practices, royal titulature, or epic and hagiographic literature. Epithets are often formulaic labels that attach to a proper name to convey a recognized attribute, lineage, or achievement. The epithet itself can be laudatory, pejorative, or neutral, and its use may reflect historical tradition or textual convention rather than a contemporary judgment.

See also: epithet; sobriquet; appellation; epithetist; honorific.

Notes: The concept is closely tied to the study of how authors and societies construct identity through titles and descriptive labels, a practice prominent in ancient epic poetry and royal chronicles.