| euphemismus | 
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 |
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| eu-phe-mis'-mus | from Gk. euphemizein, "to
speak fair" euphemismos |
Substituting a more favorable for a pejorative or socially
delicate term.
Example
In Shakespeare's King Richard II Richard inquires after John of Gaunt:
King Richard: What says he?
Northumberland: Nay, nothing, all is said.
His tongue is now a stringless instrument [meaning "he died"]
—Shakespeare, Richard II 2.1.147-149
Related Figures
See Also