Euphemism
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(The following text or part of it is quoted from the free Wikipedia:)
The word euphemism comes from the Greek word εὐφημία (euphemia), meaning "the use of words of good omen", which in turn is derived from the Greek root-words eû εὖ), "good, well" and phḗmē (φήμη) "prophetic speech; rumour, talk".[1]
A euphemism is a generally innocuous word or expression used in place of one that may be found offensive or suggest something unpleasant.[2] Some euphemisms are intended to amuse; while others use bland, inoffensive terms for things the user wishes to downplay. Euphemisms are used to refer to taboo topics (such as disability, sex, excretion, and death) in a polite way, or to mask profanity.[3]
References
- ↑ φήμη, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
- ↑ http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/euphemism
- ↑ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=euphemism