---
title: epithet — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «epithet» in the school dictionary: A describing word or phrase added to a name, like «the Great» in «Alfred the Great» or «Lionheart» in «Richard the Lionheart». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# epithet

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Richard, Homer, bully, epithet, you · **What happens:** describe, add, use, finger, be, give · **To what, where:** describing word, name, word, someone, short describing phrase, old Greek poems

<!-- .vabout -->
«epithet» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [epithet in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/epithet.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A describing word or phrase added to a name, like «the Great» in «Alfred the Great» or «Lionheart» in «Richard the Lionheart».

<!-- fold The tree, 22 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epithet:m1:1
# text = A describing word or phrase added to a name, like «the Great» in «Alfred the Great» or «Lionheart» in «Richard the Lionheart».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	describing	describe	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	3	amod	_	_
3	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	conj	_	_
6	added	add	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	Alfred	Alfred	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	20	det	_	_
20	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	Lionheart	Lionheart	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	24	punct	_	_
26	in	in	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	28	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	Richard	Richard	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	20	obl	_	_
29	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	30	det	_	_
30	Lionheart	Lionheart	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	28	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **add** *speech: assert* | participle |  | a describing word or phrase *not said here* | a name |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1 «NP V PP.recipient S-Quote»: agent=Agent to name=Recipient clause=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A word used to describe someone, often an insult or nasty name.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epithet:m2:1
# text = A word used to describe someone, often an insult or nasty name.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
3	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	2	acl	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
8	often	often	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	insult	insult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	nasty	nasty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  | a word *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **describe** | to-infinitive |  | someone |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent someone=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: stories, poems — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A short describing phrase used again and again, like «rosy-fingered dawn» in old Greek poems.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epithet:m3:1
# text = A short describing phrase used again and again, like «rosy-fingered dawn» in old Greek poems.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
2	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
3	describing	describe	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	amod	_	_
4	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	acl	_	_
6	again	again	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	again	again	ADV	RB	_	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	rosy	rosy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	fingered	finger	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	15	amod	_	_
15	dawn	dawn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	_
17	in	in	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
19	Greek	Greek	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	20	amod	_	_
20	poems	poem	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | a short describing phrase *not said here* |  | old Greek poems | again; dawn |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **finger** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«The Great» is an epithet given to Alfred.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epithet:x1:1
# text = «The Great» is an epithet given to Alfred.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	Great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	epithet	epithet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	given	give	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Alfred	Alfred	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a Great epithet |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **give** | participle |  | a Great epithet *not said here* | Alfred |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent to alfred=Recipient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Richard I had the epithet «Lionheart».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epithet:x2:1
# text = Richard I had the epithet «Lionheart».
1	Richard	Richard	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	epithet	epithet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Lionheart	Lionheart	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | Richard | the epithet |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent epithet=Patient |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Homer gives Athena the epithet «grey-eyed».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epithet:x3:1
# text = Homer gives Athena the epithet «grey-eyed».
1	Homer	homer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	gives	give	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	Athena	Athena	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	iobj	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	epithet	epithet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	eyed	eyed	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | present | Homer | the epithet | Athena |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent athena=Recipient epithet=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The bully shouted nasty epithets in the playground.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epithet:x4:1
# text = The bully shouted nasty epithets in the playground.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	bully	bully	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	shouted	shout	VERB	VBD	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	nasty	nasty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	epithets	epithet	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	playground	playground	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shout** *speech: express* | past | the bully | nasty epithets |  | the playground |  |  | vn manner\_speaking-37.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent epithet=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum's epithet for my bedroom is «the swamp».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epithet:x5:1
# text = Mum's epithet for my bedroom is «the swamp».
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	's	PART	POS	_	1	case	_	_
3	epithet	epithet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	bedroom	bedroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	swamp	swamp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | Mum's epithet for my bedroom | the swamp |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you think of a fun epithet for your pet?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epithet:x6:1
# text = Can you think of a fun epithet for your pet?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	fun	fun	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	epithet	epithet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	pet	pet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | can | you |  |  |  |  | of a fun epithet for your pet | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She was worshipped as Venus Cloacina (or the Purifier), and as Venus Myrtea (or the myrtle goddess), an epithet derived from the myrtle, the emblem of Love.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:epithet:x7:1
# text = She was worshipped as Venus Cloacina (or the Purifier), and as Venus Myrtea (or the myrtle goddess), an epithet derived from the myrtle, the emblem of Love.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj:pass	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux:pass	_	_
3	worshipped	worshipp	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	Venus	Venus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	Cloacina	Cloacina	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	Purifier	Purifier	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
14	as	as	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	Venus	Venus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	_
16	Myrtea	Myrtea	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	15	flat	_	_
17	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
19	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
20	myrtle	myrtle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	compound	_	_
21	goddess	goddess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	25	punct	_	_
24	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
25	epithet	epithet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	appos	_	_
26	derived	derive	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	25	acl	_	_
27	from	from	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	myrtle	myrtle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
31	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	32	det	_	_
32	emblem	emblem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	appos	_	_
33	of	of	ADP	IN	_	34	case	_	_
34	Love	love	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **worshipp** | past · passive |  | She |  |  |  | as Venus Cloacina | tree rules |
| 2 | **derive** | participle |  | a epithet *not said here* |  | the myrtle |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP PP.material»: agent=Agent from myrtle=Material |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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