The theory of literature allocates a set of the language funds used for increase in expressiveness of both written, and oral speech. One of such means extremely widespread and very often used, but very ambiguously perceived by theorists, is the epithet.
The term "epithet" came from an Ancient Greek word ἐπίθετον, translated as "enclosed". Determine by a concept of an epithet of literature words and the whole expressions which, having a certain structure, bear the special functional and semantic loading allowing them it is essential to influence emotional perception of other words and expressions. Generally epithets can be characterized as the words and phrases affecting expressiveness of other words and phrases. Usually epithets give to the related turns of speech additional beauty and saturation or a special semantic shade, and sometimes at all change their value. Especially widely epithets are applied in poetry, but often occur also in prosaic literary works. Strictly speaking, any work of art, as a rule, does not do without use of epithets.
In terms of morphology the epithets can be expressed by absolutely different parts of speech. It can be as adverbs ("it is passionate to wish") or nouns ("fun hour"), and an infinitive ("desire to be forgotten"), and even numerals ("the second life"). Especially often epithets are expressed by an adjective ("light eyes", "are white ruchenk", etc.).
Functionally epithets, being analytical definitions, mark out special signs of the entities presented by the defined words. It can be as constant signs ("a clear azure"), and the signs received by the analysis of the described objects by the creator of the work ("scrupulous London"). Despite huge prevalence in written and oral speech, the theory of literature has no accurately expressed view of epithets as the phenomenon. Some of researchers carry them to figures, others - to tracks. A part of theorists draws a distinction between epithets constant and decorating, but many also identify them. Generally signs of epithets are described approximately though figures and can be allocated with ease in any text.