genteelism

English

Etymology

genteel +‎ -ism

Noun

genteelism (countable and uncountable, plural genteelisms)

Genteel behaviour.
(countable) A nicer word used instead of a vulgar or distasteful word
Synonym: euphemism
- 2004, Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty […], 1st US edition, New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN:
  Were such cheerful genteelisms any use?

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.