euphemism
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Recorded since 1656; from Ancient Greek εὐφημισμός (euphēmismos) < εὐφημίζω (euphēmizō) < εὔφημος (euphēmos), “‘uttering sound of good omen, abstaining from inauspicious words’”) < εὖ (eu), “‘well’”) + φήμη (phēmē), “‘a voice, a prophetic voice, rumor, talk’”) < φάναι (phanai), “‘to speak, say’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
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euphemism (countable and uncountable; plural euphemisms)
- (uncountable) The use of a word or phrase to replace another with one that is considered less offensive or less vulgar than the word or phrase it replaces.
- (countable) (rhetoric) A word or phrase that is used to replace another in this way.
[edit] Antonyms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
use of a word or phrase to replace another word with one considered less offensive
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word or phrase that is used to replace another in this way
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[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Euphemism on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Euphemism in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.- euphemism in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- euphemism in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- euphemism at OneLook® Dictionary Search