A transferred epithet is a figure of speech in which an adjective grammatically qualifies a noun other than the person or thing it is actually describing. An epithet is a name, sometimes descriptive, which one gives to a person, whether complimentary or abusive.
Example:
'Just a few more miles to tote the weary load'
These are words from a well-known song, in which the load is not 'weary', but it is the bearer who is weary. The adjective is meant to describe the bearer but is placed so it describes the load.
Example:
'Just a few more miles to tote the weary load'
These are words from a well-known song, in which the load is not 'weary', but it is the bearer who is weary. The adjective is meant to describe the bearer but is placed so it describes the load.
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