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euphemistic - 3 dictionary results

eu⋅phe⋅mism

  [yoo-fuh-miz-uhm]
Use euphemistic in a Sentence
–noun
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.”
Origin:
1650–60; < Gk euphēmismós the use of words of good omen, equiv. to eu- eu- + phm(ē) speaking, fame + -ismos -ism

Related forms:
eu⋅phe⋅mist, noun
eu⋅phe⋅mis⋅tic, eu⋅phe⋅mis⋅ti⋅cal, eu⋅phe⋅mi⋅ous  [yoo-fee-mee-uhs] , adjective
eu⋅phe⋅mis⋅ti⋅cal⋅ly, eu⋅phe⋅mi⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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eu·phe·mism   (yōō'fə-mĭz'əm)   
n.  The act or an example of substituting a mild, indirect, or vague term for one considered harsh, blunt, or offensive: "Euphemisms such as 'slumber room' . . . abound in the funeral business" (Jessica Mitford).

[Greek euphēmismos, from euphēmizein, to use auspicious words, from euphēmiā, use of auspicious words : eu-, eu- + phēmē, speech; see bhā-2 in Indo-European roots.]
eu'phe·mist n., eu'phe·mis'tic (-mĭs'tĭk) adj., eu'phe·mis'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Euphemistic

Eu`phe*mis"tic\, Euphemistical \Eu`phe*mis"tic*al\, a. Pertaining to euphemism; containing a euphemism; softened in expression. -- Eu`phe*mis"tic*al*ly, adv.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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