Species vs. Epithet — What's the Difference?

In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction.

An epithet (from Greek: ἐπίθετον, epitheton, neuter of ἐπίθετος, epithetos, "attributed, added") is a byname, or a descriptive term (word or phrase), accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature.

A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. The species is the principal natural taxonomic unit, ranking below a genus and denoted by a Latin binomial, e.g. Homo sapiens.

An adjective or phrase expressing a quality or attribute regarded as characteristic of the person or thing mentioned

A kind or sort

A term used to characterize a person or thing, such as rosy-fingered in rosy-fingered dawn or the Great in Catherine the Great.

The visible form of each of the elements of consecrated bread and wine in the Eucharist.

A term used as a descriptive substitute for the name or title of a person, such as The Great Emancipator for Abraham Lincoln.

(Biology) A group of closely related organisms that are very similar to each other and are usually capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. The species is the fundamental category of taxonomic classification, ranking below a genus or subgenus. Species names are represented in binomial nomenclature by an uncapitalized Latin adjective or noun following a capitalized genus name, as in Ananas comosus, the pineapple, and Equus caballus, the horse.

A disparaging or abusive word or phrase.

(Logic) A class of individuals or objects grouped by virtue of their common attributes and assigned a common name; a division subordinate to a genus.

(Biology) A word in the scientific name of an organism following the name of the genus and denoting a species, subspecies, variety, or cultivar, as sativa in Lactuca sativa.

(Chemistry) A set of atoms, molecules, ions, or other chemical entities that possess the same distinct characteristics with respect to a chemical process or measurement.

A term used to characterize a person or thing.

A kind, variety, or type

(mythology) A term used as a qualifier of the name of a deity in order to designate said deity in a particular aspect or role.

The outward appearance or form of the Eucharistic elements that is retained after their consecration.

A term used as a descriptive substitute for the name or title of a person.

Either of the consecrated elements of the Eucharist.

One of many formulaic words or phrases used in the Iliad and Odyssey to characterize a person, a group of people, or a thing.

Type or kind. race.}}

An abusive or contemptuous word or phrase.

A group of plants or animals having similar appearance.

(taxonomy) A word in the scientific name of a taxon following the name of the genus or species. This applies only to formal names of plants, fungi and bacteria. In formal names of animals the corresponding term is the specific name.

A category in the classification of organisms, ranking below genus; a taxon at that rank.

(transitive) To term; to refer to as.

A particular type of atom, molecule, ion or other particle.

An adjective expressing some quality, attribute, or relation, that is properly or specially appropriate to a person or thing; as, a just man; a verdant lawn.

(mineralogy) A mineral with a unique chemical formula whose crystals belong to a unique crystallographic system.

Term; expression; phrase.

An image, an appearance, a spectacle.

To describe by an epithet.

(obsolete) The image of something cast on a surface, or reflected from a surface, or refracted through a lens or telescope; a reflection.

A defamatory or abusive word or phrase;

Visible or perceptible presentation; appearance; something perceived.

Descriptive word or phrase

(Christianity) Either of the two elements of the Eucharist after they have been consecrated.

Coin, or coined silver, gold, or other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie.

A component part of compound medicine; a simple.

Plural of specie

Visible or sensible presentation; appearance; a sensible percept received by the imagination; an image.

A group of individuals agreeing in common attributes, and designated by a common name; a conception subordinated to another conception, called a genus, or generic conception, from which it differs in containing or comprehending more attributes, and extending to fewer individuals. Thus, man is a species, under animal as a genus; and man, in its turn, may be regarded as a genus with respect to European, American, or the like, as species.

In science, a more or less permanent group of existing things or beings, associated according to attributes, or properties determined by scientific observation.

A sort; a kind; a variety; as, a species of low cunning; a species of generosity; a species of cloth.

Coin, or coined silver, gold, or other metal, used as a circulating medium; specie.

A public spectacle or exhibition.

A component part of a compound medicine; a simple.

The form or shape given to materials; fashion or shape; form; figure.

(biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed

A specific kind of something;