euphemism

名词 n.
中文释义
发音 yoo͞ʹfə-mĭz'əm

英文释义

名词 n.
  1. The use of a word or phrase to replace another one that is more offensive, blunt or vulgar. uncountable
    — Akin to it [litotes] is euphemism, which may be applied to the same purpose.
  2. A word or phrase that replaces another in this way. countable
    — When it is said of the martyr St. Stephen, that “he fell asleep,” instead of—he died, the euphemism partakes of the nature of metaphor, intimating a resemblance between sleep and the death of such a person.

词形变化

euphemisms plural

词汇关系

近义词
perfumed terms of the time
反义词
dysphemism expletive
下位词
minced oath
衍生词
euphemism treadmill malphemism youthemism
相关词
euphemistic pseudonym

词源

Recorded since 1656; from Ancient Greek εὐφημισμός (euphēmismós), from εὐφημίζω (euphēmízō), from εὔφημος (eúphēmos, “uttering sound of good omen, abstaining from inauspicious words”), from εὖ (eû, “well”) + φήμη (phḗmē, “a voice, a prophetic voice, rumor, talk”), from φημί (phēmí, “to speak, say”).
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