eu‧phe‧mis‧m /ˈjuːfəmɪzəm, ˈjuːfɪmɪzəm/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Greek; Origin: euphemismos, from euphemos 'sounding good', from pheme 'speech']
a polite word or expression that you use instead of a more direct one to avoid shocking or upsetting someone:
‘Pass away’ is a euphemism for ‘die’.
Euphemism comes from the Greek word
euphemia (εὐφημία) which refers to the use of 'words of good omen'; it is a compound of eû (εὖ), meaning 'good, well', and phḗmē (φήμη), meaning 'prophetic speech; rumour, talk'.[2] Eupheme is a reference to the female Greek spirit of words of praise and positivity, etc. The term euphemism itself was used as a euphemism by the ancient Greeks; with the meaning "to keep a holy silence" (speaking well by not speaking at all)
