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euphemism

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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionaryeu·phe·mism \ˈyü-fə-ˌmi-zəm\ noun ETYMOLOGY  Greek euphēmismos, from euphēmos auspicious, sounding good, from eu- + phēmē speech, from phanai to speak — more at ban DATE  circa 1681: the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant; also : the expression so substituted• eu·phe·mist  \-mist\ noun• eu·phe·mis·tic  \ˌyü-fə-ˈmis-tik\ adjective• eu·phe·mis·ti·cal·ly  \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverbEnglish Etymologyeuphemism  1656, from Gk. euphemismos "use of a favorable word in place of an inauspicious one," from euphemizein "speak with fair words," from eu- "good" + pheme "speaking," from phanai"speak" (see fame). In ancient Greece, the superstitious avoidance of words of ill-omen during religious ceremonies, or substitutions such as Eumenides "the Gracious Ones" for the Furies (see also Euxine). In Eng., a rhetorical term at first; broader sense of "choosing a less distasteful word or phrase than the one meant" is first attested 1793.Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7euphemismeu·phem·ism / 5ju:fEmizEm / noun    ~ (for sth) an indirect word or phrase that people often use to refer to sth embarrassing or unpleasant, sometimes to make it seem more acceptable than it really is   委婉语；委婉说法:   'Pass away' is a euphemism for 'die'.    "去世"是"死"的委婉语。    'User fees' is just a politician's euphemism for taxes.    "用户费"不过是政治家对"税款"的委婉说法。 • eu·phem·is·tic / 7ju:fE5mistik / adj.:   euphemistic language    委婉的语言 • eu·phem·is·tic·al·ly / 7ju:fE5mistikli / adv.:   The prison camps were euphemistically called 'retraining centres'.    战俘营被委婉地称作"再训练中心"。 Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridgedeu·phe·mism\ˈyüfəˌmizəm, -fəmˌi-\ noun(-s)Etymology: Greek euphēmismos, from euphēmos auspicious, sounding good (from eu- + -phēmos, from phēmē speech, from phanai to say) + -ismos -ism — more at -phemia1. : the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive word or expression for one that is harsh, indelicate, or otherwise unpleasant or taboo : allusion to an offensive thing by an inoffensive expression — contrasted with dysphemism2. : a polite, tactful, or less explicit term used to avoid the direct naming of an unpleasant, painful, or frightening reality (as pass away for die; underprivileged for poor)

From Euphemism Noun Word Eu The Inoffensive Expression