— 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 blunt.
2. the expression so substituted: "To pass away" is a euphemism for "to die."
[ 1650-60; euphemismós the use of words of good omen, equiv. to eu- EU- + phém ( e ) speaking, fame + -ismos -ISM ]