eu·phe·mism

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• eu|phe|mism — «YOO fuh mihz uhm», noun. 1. the use of a mild or indirect expression instead of one that is harsh or unpleasantly direct. 2. a word or expression used in this way. “Pass away” is a common euphemism for “die.” ╂[< Greek euphēmismós <… …   Useful english dictionary

• dys|phe|mism — «DIHS fuh mihz uhm», noun. 1. the use of a harsh or unpleasantly direct expression instead of one that is mild or neutral. 2. a harsh or unpleasantly direct expression used in this way: »“Kick the bucket” is a dysphemism for “die.” ╂[< dys +… …   Useful english dictionary

• mism — acos·mism; an·i·mism; au·ton·o·mism; bath·mism; bro·mism; cos·mism; dy·na·mism; dys·phe·mism; econ·o·mism; en·de·mism; eu·phe·mism; ex·tre·mism; hal·o·chro·mism; hor·mism; id·i·or·rhyth·mism; in·ti·mism; le·git·i·mism; no·mism; oc·ca·mism;… …   English syllables

• dysphemism — dys·phe·mism …   English syllables

• euphemism — eu·phe·mism …   English syllables

• EU — EU; Eu; eu·arc·tos; eu·as·ca·les; eu·ascomycetes; eu·as·co·my·cet·i·dae; eu·ascomycetous; eu·aster; eu·bacteria; eu·bac·te·ri·a·les; eu·bacterium; eu·ba·sid·i·ae; eu·ba·sid·ii; eu·bo·ic; eu·branchipus; eu·bryales; eu·caine; eu·cai·rite;… …   English syllables

• euphemism — eu•phe•mism [[t]ˈyu fəˌmɪz əm[/t]] n. 1) rht the substitution of a mild or indirect expression for one thought to be offensive or blunt 2) rht the expression so substituted: “To pass away” is a euphemism for “to die.”[/ex] • Etymology: 1650–60;… …   From formal English to slang

• dys — dys·acou·sia; dys·adaptation; dys·ar·thria; dys·arthrosis; dys·che·zia; dys·chon·dro·pla·sia; dys·chromatopsia; dys·cra·sia; dys·cra·site; dys·crystalline; dys·der·cus; dys·en·ter·ic; dys·en·ter·i·form; dys·en·tery; dys·er·gia; dys·esthesia;… …   English syllables

• dysphemism — dys•phe•mism [[t]ˈdɪs fəˌmɪz əm[/t]] n. 1) ling. the substitution of a harsh, disparaging, or unpleasant expression for a more neutral one 2) ling. an expression so substituted • Etymology: 1880–85; dys + (eu) phemism dys phe•mis′tic, adj …   From formal English to slang

• 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