euphemism
- euphemism
euphemism 1650s, from
Gk. euphemismos "
use of a favorable word in place of an inauspicious one," from
euphemizein "
speak with fair words, use words of good omen," from
eu- "
good" (see
EU- (
Cf. eu-)) +
pheme "
speaking," from
phanai "
speak" (see
FAME (
Cf. fame) (
n.)).
In ancient Greece, the superstitious avoidance of words of ill-omen during religious ceremonies, or substitutions such as
Eumenides "
the Gracious Ones" for the Furies (see also
EUXINE (
Cf. Euxine)). In English, a rhetorical term at first; broader sense of "
choosing a less distasteful word or phrase than the one meant" is first attested 1793. Related:
Euphemistic;
euphemistically.
Etymology dictionary.
2014.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
euphemism — is the use of a milder or vaguer word or phrase in place of one that might seem too harsh or direct in a particular context, and a euphemism is such a word or phrase. The most productive subjects for euphemism are bodily functions, sexual… … Modern English usage
Euphemism — Eu phe*mism ([=u] f[ e]*m[i^]z m), n. [Gr. ? fr. ? to use word of a good omen; e y^ well + ? to speak: cf. F. euph[ e]misme. See {Fame}.] (Rhet.) A figure in which a harsh or indelicate word or expression is softened; a way of describing an… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
euphemism — index bombast Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
euphemism — [n] nice way of saying something circumlocution, delicacy, floridness, grandiloquence, inflation, pomposity, pretense, purism; concepts 275,278 … New thesaurus
euphemism — ► NOUN ▪ a mild or less direct word substituted for one that is harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. DERIVATIVES euphemistic adjective euphemistically adverb. ORIGIN Greek euph mismos, from eu well + ph m… … English terms dictionary
euphemism — [yo͞o′fə miz΄əm] n. [Gr euphēmismos < euphēmizein, to use words of good omen < euphēmos, of good sound or omen < eu (see EU ) + phēmē, speech < phanai, say: see BAN1] 1. the use of a word or phrase that is less expressive or direct… … English World dictionary
Euphemism — A euphemism is a substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener, [ [http://www.merriam webster.com/dictionary/Euphemism Euphemism] Webster s Online… … Wikipedia
euphemism — UK [ˈjuːfəˌmɪzəm] / US [ˈjufəˌmɪzəm] noun [countable] Word forms euphemism : singular euphemism plural euphemisms linguistics a word or expression that people use when they want to talk about something unpleasant or embarrassing without… … English dictionary
euphemism — [[t]ju͟ːfəmɪzəm[/t]] euphemisms N COUNT: oft N for n A euphemism is a polite word or expression that is used to refer to things which people may find upsetting or embarrassing to talk about, for example sex, the human body, or death. The term… … English dictionary
euphemism — euphemist, n. euphemistic, euphemistical, euphemious /yooh fee mee euhs/, adj. euphemistically, euphemiously, adv. /yooh feuh miz euhm/, n. 1. the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or… … Universalium
