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Epithet

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A descriptive phrase expressing a quality characteristic of the person or thing mentioned

Detailed Definition
An Epithet is a descriptive term—often an adjective or adjective phrase—used to characterize a person, place, or thing, either as a fixed formula (Homeric epithets like “rosy-fingered dawn”) or as a creative modifier; in poetry, epithets condense complex attributes into vivid shorthand, shaping tone and imagery through selective emphasis.
Example
Example in poetry:
Homer’s “rosy-fingered Dawn” exemplifies Homeric epithet; Shakespeare’s “star-crossed lovers” in “Romeo and Juliet”; Milton’s “blind Thamyris” in “Lycidas”; Emily Dickinson’s “purple Host” for flowers; Langston Hughes’s “dream deferred” as modern epithet; Ocean Vuong’s “little father” as intimate epithet.
Additional Notes
Descriptive phrase characterizing person/thing. "Wine-dark sea," "swift-footed Achilles." Homeric device. Can replace or accompany name. Related: kenning, stock phrase. Creates memorable imagery.
Also Known As
descriptive tag homeric epithet Renaming phrase epithetic phrase Épithète Epitheton
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