epithet
noun /ˈepɪθet/
/ˈepɪθet/
- an adjective or phrase that is used to describe somebody/something’s character or most important quality, especially in order to give praise or criticism
（尤用于褒贬人或事物特征或性质的）表述形容词，修饰语 - The film is long and dramatic but does not quite earn the epithet ‘epic’.
这部影片篇幅长，戏剧性强，不过还不能誉为 “史诗”。
- The film is long and dramatic but does not quite earn the epithet ‘epic’.
- (especially North American English) an offensive word or phrase that is used about a person or group of people
别称；绰号；诨名 - Racial epithets were scrawled on the walls.
墙上涂写着一些带有种族歧视的称谓。
- Racial epithets were scrawled on the walls.
词源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’.