epithet

epithet
    n 1: a defamatory or abusive word or phrase [syn: {name},
         {epithet}]
    2: descriptive word or phrase
    

Epithet \Ep"i*thet\, n. [L. epitheton, Gr. ?, fr. ? added, fr. ?
   to add; 'epi` upon, to + ? to put, place: cf. F.
   ['e]pith[`e]te. See {Do}.]
   1. An adjective expressing some quality, attribute, or
      relation, that is properly or specially appropriate to a
      person or thing; as, a just man; a verdant lawn.
      [1913 Webster]

            A prince [Henry III.] to whom the epithet
            "worthless" seems best applicable.    --Hallam.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Term; expression; phrase. "Stuffed with epithets of war."
      --Shak.

   Syn: {Epithet}, {Title}.

   Usage: The name epithet was formerly extended to nouns which
          give a title or describe character (as the "epithet of
          liar"), but is now confined wholly to adjectives. Some
          rhetoricians, as Whately, restrict it still further,
          considering the term epithet as belonging only to a
          limited class of adjectives, viz., those which add
          nothing to the sense of their noun, but simply hold
          forth some quality necessarily implied therein; as,
          the bright sun, the lofty heavens, etc. But this
          restriction does not prevail in general literature.
          Epithet is sometimes confounded with application,
          which is always a noun or its equivalent.
          [1913 Webster]
    

Epithet \Ep"i*thet\, v. t.
   To describe by an epithet. [R.]
   [1913 Webster]

         Never was a town better epitheted.       --Sir H.
                                                  Wotton.
   Epithetic
    

63 Moby Thesaurus words for "epithet":
      abuse, appellation, appellative, binomen, binomial name,
      blackguard, byword, call names, catchword, cognomen, cryptonym,
      curse, cuss, cuss out, cuss word, damn, denomination, designation,
      device, dirty name, dirty word, dysphemism, empty title, epigraph,
      epithetize, eponym, euonym, expletive, foul invective, handle,
      honorific, hyponym, inscription, label, moniker, motto, name,
      namesake, naughty word, no-no, nomen, nomen nudum, oath, obscenity,
      profane oath, proper name, proper noun, revile, scientific name,
      secret name, slogan, style, swear at, swearword, tag, tag line,
      tautonym, title, trinomen, trinomial name, vilify, vituperate,
      watchword