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nice-nellyism

 - 2 dictionary results

nice-nel⋅ly⋅ism

  [nahys-nel-ee-iz-uhm]
Use nice-nellyism in a Sentence
–noun
1. excessive modesty; prudishness.
2. a euphemism: an evasive style of writing, full of circumlocutions and nice-nellyisms.
Also, nice-Nel⋅ly⋅ism.

Origin:
1935–40; nice nelly + -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To nice-nellyism
nice-nel·ly   (nīs'něl'ē)   
adj.  

  1. Priggish.

  2. Marked by the use of euphemism: nice-nelly language.


[From the name Nelly, nickname for Helen.]
nice'-nel'ly·ism n.
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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