euphemism English · revision 2247

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈjuː.fəˌmɪz.əm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|εὐφημισμός|tr=euphēmismós|t=use of a favourable word in place of an inauspicious one]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''euphēmízein'' “to speak with fair words”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''euphēmía'',^(AHD) [[af|grc|εὐ-|φήμη|tr1=eu-|tr2=phḗmē|t1=good, well|t2=speech]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''phánai'' “to speak”,^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|ine-pro|*bha-|t=to speak]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In rhetoric, the figure of speech that substitutes a word of comparatively favourable meaning for one that is harsher (1656–81).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) Etymonline dates the word to the 1650s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Greek the word described the superstitious avoidance of ill-omened words, especially during religious ceremonies;^(Etymonline) the Athenians, for instance, called the Furies the ''Eumenides'', “the kindly ones”.^(Etymonline) English used it first as a rhetorical term,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and from 1793 for an individual mild word or phrase substituted for a blunter one.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1656–81 – the rhetorical figure.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1793 – an instance, a mild substitute expression.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1856 – ''euphemistic''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The substitution of a mild, indirect or vague expression for one considered harsh, blunt or offensive.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An expression substituted in this way, as ''pass away'' for ''die''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[euphemist]]

+ * [[euphemistically]]

+ * [[euphemistic]]

+ * [[euphemize]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pseudonym]]

+ * [[dysphemism]]

+ * [[fame]]

+ * [[prophet]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}