Euphema (ufema)

[NL., IMG:content-0785.jpg:[graphic] IMG:content-0786.png:[graphic][merged small][merged small] by Wagler in 1830. It contains such species as E. ele to include such species as E. discovery Aise Euphemi euphemism (u'fē-mizm), n. [ This instinct of politene in speech- euphemism , as it is called which seeks to hint at an unpleasant or an indelicate thing rather than name it directly, has had much to do in making words acquire new meanings and lose old ones: thus 'plain' has usurped the sense of 'ugly'; 'fast,' of 'di ipated'; 'gallantry, of 'licentiousne .' Chambers, Inf. for the People. 2. A word or expre ion thus substituted: as, to employ a euphemism. When it was said of the martyr St. Stephen that "he fell asleep," instead of "he died," the euphemism partakes of the nature of a metaphor, intimating a resemblance between sleep and the death of such a person. Beattie , Moral Science, § 866. euphemistic, euphemist i cal (u-fe-mis'tik, -tikal), a . Pertaining to or characterized by euphemism. euphemistically (ū-fē-mis'ti-kal-i), adv. In a euphemistic manner; as a euphemism. euphemize (ū'fē-miz), v.; pret. and pp. euphe mized, ppr. euphemizing. [ II. in trans. To indulge in euphemism; speak euphemistically.