- genteelism
- noun Date: 1926 a word believed by its user to be more polite or less vulgar than a common synonym; also the use of genteelisms
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
genteelism
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genteelism — Fowler (1926) described genteelism as ‘the substituting, for the ordinary natural word that first suggests itself to the mind, of a synonym that is thought to be less soiled by the lips of the common herd, less familiar, less plebeian, less… … Modern English usage
genteelism — /jen tee liz euhm/, n. a word or phrase used in place of another, supposedly less genteel term: Limb is a genteelism for leg. [1925 30; GENTEEL + ISM] * * * … Universalium
genteelism — noun a nicer word used instead of a vulgar or distasteful word Were such cheerful genteelisms any use? Syn: euphemism … Wiktionary
genteelism — gen·teel·ism … English syllables
genteelism — gen•teel•ism [[t]dʒɛnˈti lɪz əm[/t]] n. ling. a word or phrase used in place of another, supposedly less genteel term • Etymology: 1925–30 … From formal English to slang
genteelism — /dʒɛnˈtilɪzəm/ (say jen teelizuhm) noun a self consciously polite synonym for a forthright or crude word …
genteelism — n. a word used because it is thought to be less vulgar than the commoner word (e.g. perspire for sweat) … Useful english dictionary
List of English words with disputed usage — Some English words are often used in ways that are contentious between writers on usage and prescriptive commentators. The contentious usages are especially common in spoken English. While in some circles the usages below may make the speaker… … Wikipedia
Scientific writing — cientific Englishtyle of writing and use of English in essays and scientific papersThe following advice may be of help to students writing an essay or a scientific paper.Three aspects of style seem to cause problems# Division of the text into… … Wikipedia
euphemism — I (Roget s IV) n. Syn. substitution, doublespeak, softened expression, polite term, code word, mock modesty, prudishness, indirection, metaphorical speech, verbal extenuation, word in good taste, overdelicacy of speech, affected refinement,… … English dictionary for students
