euphemism / dysphemism

[prettygoodword]

euphemism (YOO-fuh-miz-uhm) - n., the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt; the expression so substituted.

dysphemism (DIS-fuh-miz-uhm) - n., the substitution of a disagreeable or offensive expression for an agreeable or inoffensive one; the expression so substituted.


Softening or roughening things up, respectively. Note that depending on context, a euphemism can be taken as a dysphemism and vice versa. The former is adopted in the 1650s from Greek euphēmismos, from euphēmos, saying words of good omen, from eu, well + phḗmē, speaking. The latter was coined in 1884 on its patterm, from Greek dys-, ill/bad.

---L.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I know when and why we use euphemisms, but I'm trying to think about when and why we use dysphemisms. Is that what we'd call what demagogues do, when they use some horrible term for a group they're trying to rouse others to hate?

[larryhammer]

One example is when you call a close friend by an insult. Another (by way of synecdoche) calling someone a dick or an asshole.

---L.