Legal Definition of Epithets

An epithet is an adjective or adjectival phrase that characterizes a place, thing, or person that helps make the characteristics of that thing more visible. These descriptive phrases can be used positively or negatively, which benefits the speaker. “It will be common that the epithets used by a skilful speaker are, in fact, so many abbreviated arguments, the power of which is sufficiently expressed by a simple reference; For example, if someone says, “We should be warned by the bloody revolution of the France,” the epithet indicates one of the reasons for our warning; And it is no less clear and forceful than if the argument had been presented in detail. [16] Since persuasion is a key element of rhetoric, it is rational to use epithets. The use of convincing formulations puts pressure on one`s own arguments. Knowledge as well as descriptive words or phrases can be a powerful tool. This is supported in Bryan Short`s article when he says, “The new rhetoric derives its empiricist taste from a pervasive respect for clarity and frankness of language.” [17] Rhetoricians use epithets to get their audience to see their point of view by using verbal imagery as a persuasive tactic. Call him what you want – and many use non-printing epithets – he looks like the Pied Piper while journalists and other senators follow him as he votes again that will anger someone. Stephen Adams provides a definition of the fixed epithet: “The fixed epithet, a particular variety found in epic poetry, is the repeated use of an adjective or phrase for the same theme; thus, in Homer`s Odyssey, the woman Penelope is always “intelligent”, the son of Telemachus is always “reasonable” and Odysseus himself is “multi-spirited” (Stephen Adams, Poetic Designs. Broadview, 1997). An epithet (from Ancient Greek ἐπίθετον (epítheton) “adjective”, from ἐπίθετος (epíthetos) “additional”),[1] also an epithet, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known to accompany or replace a noun and has entered common usage.

It has different shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictional persons, deities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It can also be a descriptive title: for example, Pallas Athena, Phoebus Apollo, Alfred the Great, Suleiman the Magnificent or Władysław I the High Elbow. Many English kings have traditional nicknames: some of the most famous are Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, Richard the Lionheart, John Lackland, . In William Shakespeare`s play Romeo and Juliet, epithets such as “crossed lovers” and “love marked by death” are used in the prologue. Like any woman, I expected explicit photos, unwanted advances and, if I dared to refuse, epithets. C.S. Lewis repeats the above advice. “One of the first things we need to say to a beginner who has brought us their MS is, `Avoid epithets that are just emotional.` There is no point in telling us that something was “mysterious” or “disgusting”, “impressive” or “lush”. Do you think your readers will believe you just because you say so? You have to adopt a completely different way of working. By direct description, by metaphor and parable, by the secret awakening of powerful associations, by offering the right stimuli for our nerves (to the right degree and in the right order), and by the rhythm and vocal melody and the length and brevity of your sentences, you must make us, the readers, exclaim, not you, “How mysterious!” or “Disgusting” or whatever. Let me try for myself, and you won`t have to tell me how to respond to taste” (C.S.

Lewis, Studies in Words, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, 1967). In many polytheistic religions, such as those of ancient India[11] and Iran[12] (the oldest of which date back to a common Indo-Iranian period),[13] Greece and Rome, the epithets of a deity generally reflected a particular aspect of the nature and role of that god, for which their influence can be acquired for a particular occasion: Apollo Musagetes is “Apollo, [as] chief of the Muses” and therefore patron of the arts and sciences, while Phoibos Apollo is the same deity, but like a shining sun god. “Athena protects the city as Polias, oversees arts and crafts as Ergane, joins the battle as Promachos, and grants victory as Nike.” [14] An epithet appears to be similar to other simple linguistic tools such as adjectives.