EUPHEMISM


Meaning of EUPHEMISM in English

n.

Pronunciation: ' yü-f ə - ˌ mi-z ə m

Function: noun

Etymology: Greek euph ē mismos, from euph ē mos auspicious, sounding good, from eu- + ph ē m ē speech, from phanai to speak ― more at BAN

Date: circa 1681

: the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant also : the expression so substituted

– eu · phe · mist \ -mist \ noun

– eu · phe · mis · tic \ ˌ yü-f ə - ' mis-tik \ adjective

– eu · phe · mis · ti · cal · ly \ -ti-k( ə -)l ē \ adverb

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.