affected refinement of language
1Refinement — Re*fine ment (r?*f?n ment), n. [Cf. F. raffinement.] 1. The act of refining, or the state of being refined; as, the refinement or metals; refinement of ideas. [1913 Webster] The more bodies are of kin to spirit in subtilty and refinement, the… …
2language — /lang gwij/, n. 1. a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or the same cultural tradition: the two languages of Belgium; a Bantu language; the French… …
3euphemism — n. 1. Softened expression (to avoid offending by harshness, or by indelicacy). 2. Over delicacy of speech, affected refinement of language, euphuism …
4Persia — • The history, religion, and civilization of Persia are offshoots from those of Media. Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Persia Persia …
5preciosity — /presh ee os i tee/, n., pl. preciosities. fastidious or carefully affected refinement, as in language, style, or taste. [1350 1400; ME preciousite < MF preciosite < L pretiositas. See PRECIOUS, ITY] * * * ▪ literature French Préciosité, … …
6euphuism — eu phu*ism ([=u] f[ u]*[i^]z m), n. [Gr. e yfyh s well grown, graceful; e y^ well + fyh growth, fr. fy ein to grow. This affected style of conversation and writing, fashionable for some time in the court of Elizabeth, had its origin from the fame …
7euphemism — 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,… …
8preciosity — pre•ci•os•i•ty [[t]ˌprɛʃ iˈɒs ɪ ti[/t]] n. pl. ties fastidious or carefully affected refinement, as in language or style • Etymology: 1350–1400; < MF < L …
9preciosity — /prɛʃiˈɒsəti/ (say preshee osuhtee), /prɛs / (say pres ) noun (plural preciosities) fastidious or carefully affected refinement, as in language, style, or taste. {Middle English preciosite, from Old French, from Latin pretiōsitas} …
10Europe, history of — Introduction history of European peoples and cultures from prehistoric times to the present. Europe is a more ambiguous term than most geographic expressions. Its etymology is doubtful, as is the physical extent of the area it designates.… …
