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euphuism
4 dictionary results for: euphuism
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
eu·phu·ism 
[yoo-fyoo-iz-uhm] Pronunciation Key
[yoo-fyoo-iz-uhm] Pronunciation Key –noun
| 1. | an affected style in imitation of that of Lyly, fashionable in England about the end of the 16th century, characterized chiefly by long series of antitheses and frequent similes relating to mythological natural history, and alliteration. Compare Euphues. |
| 2. | any similar ornate style of writing or speaking; high-flown, periphrastic language. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
| eu·phu·ism
(yōō'fyōō-ĭz'əm) Pronunciation Key
n.
[After Euphues, a character in Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit and Euphues and his England by John Lyly, from Greek euphuēs, shapely : eu-, eu- + phuein, to grow, bring forth; see bheuə- in Indo-European roots.] eu'phu·ist n., eu'phu·is'tic, eu'phu·is'ti·cal adj., eu'phu·is'ti·cal·ly adv. |
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
| euphuism | |
noun | |
| 1. | any artificially elegant style of language |
| 2. | an elegant style of prose of the Elizabethan period; characterized by balance and antithesis and alliteration and extended similes with and allusions to nature and mythology |
WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Euphuism
Eu"phu*ism\, n. [Gr. ? well grown, graceful; ? well + ? growth, fr. ? to grow. This affected style of conversation and writing, fashionable for some time in the court of Elizabeth, had its origin from the fame of Lyly's books, "Euphues, or the Anatomy of Wit," and "Euphues and his England."] (Rhet.) An affectation of excessive elegance and refinement of language; high-flown diction.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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