dysphemism

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William
Junior Lexiterian
Posts: 95
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 6:48 pm

dysphemism

Postby William » Thu Jun 02, 2005 3:32 pm

from Mirriam-Webster
Main Entry: dys·phe·mism Pronunciation Guide
Pronunciation: disfmizm
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): -s
Etymology: dys- + -phemism (as in euphemism)
: substitution of a disagreeable, offensive, or disparaging word or expression for an agreeable or inoffensive one (as of axle grease for butter, old man for father, or heap for car); also : a word or expression so substituted -- contrasted with euphemism
Another example:

"Ambulance chaser" for "personal injury attorney". Or do I have that backwards? Maybe "personal injury attorney" is a euphemism for "ambulance chaser".

William

Apoclima
Senior Lexiterian
Posts: 555
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Postby Apoclima » Thu Jun 02, 2005 4:23 pm

Excellent word, William!

"Don't talk to me today! I'm in one of my dysphemistic moods!"

Apo
'Experiments are the only means of knowledge at our disposal. The rest is poetry, imagination.' -Max Planck

astrokatastro
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Postby astrokatastro » Fri Jun 10, 2005 1:21 pm

In today Greek means give something a bad fame-φήμη .Negative comersial spot.
ΝΙΨΟΝΑΝΟΜΗΜΑΤΑΜΗΜΟΝΑΝΟΨΙΝ

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Slava
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Re: dysphemism

Postby Slava » Sun Feb 14, 2021 8:53 pm

Ran into dysphemic today and had to look it up. I didn't make the leap to see the relation to the -phemism of eu-. Not usually used as a nice word, but a good one to remember.
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