| 释义 |
euphuism|ˈjuːfjuːɪz(ə)m|
Also 6–7 euphueisme, 9 -eism.
[f. prec. + -ism.]
1. Properly, the name of a certain type of diction and style which originated in the imitation of Lyly's Euphues (see prec.), and which was fashionable in literature and in the conversation of cultivated society at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th c. Hence applied to any similar kind of affectation in writing or speech, and (loosely) to affectedly periphrastic or ‘high-flown’ language in general.
The chief features of ‘euphuism’ in the proper sense are: the continual recurrence of antithetic clauses in which the antithesis is emphasized by means of alliteration; the frequent introduction of a long string of similes all relating to the same subject, often drawn from the fabulous qualities ascribed to plants, minerals, and animals; and the constant endeavour after subtle refinement of expression. The sense in which (exc. in books on literary history) the word is now commonly used, is chiefly suggested by the absurd bombast which Scott puts into the mouth of Sir Piercie Shafton (who is described as a ‘Euphuist’) in The Monastery: this caricature, however, bears very little resemblance to the genuine ‘euphuism’. Some loose uses of the word can hardly be accounted for exc. by supposing that the writers (recognizing the familiar prefix eu-) had the notion that its etymological sense was ‘fine talking’ or something equivalent.
1592G. Harvey Third Let. 34 What hee is improued since, excepting his good olde Flores Poetarum, and Tarletons surmounting Rhetorique, with a little Euphuisme, and Greenesse inough. 1632E. Blount Lyly's Six Crt. Comedies Ep. to Rdr., All our Ladies were then his Schollers; And that Beautie in Court, which could not Parley Euphueisme, was as little regarded; as shee which now there, speakes not French. 1820Scott Monast. xiv, When euphuism is out of fashion. 1841–4Emerson Ess., Nature Wks. (Bohn) I. 227 As soon as men begin to write on nature, they fall into euphuism. 1852Lever Daltons I. xxvii. 225 Her perfumed little notes, written in a style of euphuism all her own. 1874Green Short Hist. vii. 427 The Pedantry of Euphuism was giving way to the pedantry of Scriptural phrases.
¶ transf. Affected elegance in dress, etc.
This curious use is found also in Fr.; see Littré.
1824New Monthly Mag. X. 493 Their own frippery euphueism of dress and manner.
2. An instance of euphuism; a euphuistic phrase or composition.
1871R. F. Weymouth Euph. 13, I take a euphuism..as signifying a particular form of expression characteristic of Lilie's prose. 1884E. P. Hood in Chr. World 21 Aug. 629/2 Hymn-writers..whose frigid euphuisms have found their names in Mr. Miller's large catalogue.
¶ Erroneously for euphemism.
1865Mrs. Gaskell Wives & Dau. in Cornh. Mag. Aug. 139 ‘If anything did—go wrong, you know’, said Cynthia, using an euphuism for death. 1866Geo. Eliot F. Holt (1868) 63 Those are your roundabout euphuisms that dress up swindling till, etc. |