epitheton

Forms

epitheton n (genitive epithetī); second declension^[1] Also epithetum;^[2][3] the spellings epiteton and epytheton occur.^[4][5]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἐπίθετον (epítheton, “epithet”),^[6][7][8] the neuter of ἐπίθετος (epíthetos, “added”), from ἐπιτίθημι (epitíthēmi, “to place on, add”).^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Sabinus, of an epithet (Victor) given to a god.^[6] Quintilian (c. 35–95/96 AD) uses it as a grammatical term for an adjective or other word used attributively, as “sweet” in “sweet must”.^[6][7][5]

Semantic evolution

Grammarians and commentators of the 4th and 5th centuries used it often;^[7][9] Macrobius discusses the epithets of Virgil.^[7][9] Isidore explains it as a word placed over a name, which is never found without the noun.^[10] In the Middle Ages it was used of an attribute or distinguishing name more generally,^[11][3] and, by confusion with epithema, of a poultice.^[3][5]

Italian epiteto continues it.^[12]

Timeline

• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it for an attributive word.^[6][7][5]
• first half of the 5th century AD – Macrobius discusses Virgil's epithets.^[7][9][5]
• c. 560–636 AD – Isidore explains it.^[10][5]
• 639–709 AD – Aldhelm uses it of epithets joined to nouns.^[11][5]
• 9th century – The Antidotarium of St Gall uses it.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (grammar) An epithet, an adjective or other word used attributively.^[6][7]
2. (Medieval Latin) An attribute, distinguishing name.^[11][3]
3. (Medieval Latin) By confusion with epithema: a poultice.^[3][5]

Related words

• English epithet

Usage notes

Isidore distinguishes it from antonomasia: antonomasia stands in place of a name, while an epithet is never used without one.^[10]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
3. ^ a b c d e Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ Saalfeld, Günther Alexander (1874), Index Graecorum vocabulorum in linguam latinam translatorum, Berlin: Weidmann
9. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
10. ^ a b c Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
11. ^ a b c Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
12. ^ Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier