Part 853

Wrapt in lazy eupeptic fat.

Carlyle.

Eu"phe*mism ("f*mz'm), n. [Gr. &?; fr. &?; to use word of a good omen; e'y^ well + &?; to speak: cf. F. euphémisme. See Fame.] (Rhet.) A figure in which a harsh or indelicate word or expression is softened; a way of describing an offensive thing by an inoffensive expression; a mild name for something disagreeable.

{ Eu`phe*mis"tic (?), Eu`phe*mis"tic*al (?), } a. Pertaining to euphemism; containing a euphemism; softened in expression. -- Eu`phe*mis"tic*al*ly, adv.

Eu"phe*mize (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Euphemized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Euphemizing.] [Gr. &?; .] To express by a euphemism, or in delicate language; to make use of euphemistic expressions.

Eu*pho"ni*ad (?), n. [See Euphony.] (Mus.) An instrument in which are combined the characteristic tones of the organ and various other instruments. [R.]

{ Eu*phon"ic (?), Eu*phon"ic*al (?), } a. Pertaining to, or exhibiting, euphony; agreeable in sound; pleasing to the ear; euphonious; as, a euphonic expression; euphonical orthography.

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Eu*phon"i*con (*fn"*kn), n. [See Euphony.] (Mus.) A kind of upright piano.

Eu*pho"ni*ous (?), a. Pleasing or sweet in sound; euphonic; smooth-sounding. Hallam. -- Eu*pho"ni*ous*ly, adv.

Eu"pho*nism (?), n. An agreeable combination of sounds; euphony.

Eu*pho"ni*um (?), n. [NL. See Euphony.] (Mus.) A bass instrument of the saxhorn family.

Eu"pho*nize (?), v. t. To make euphonic. [R.]

Eu"pho*non (?), n. [See Euphony.] (Mus.) An instrument resembling the organ in tone and the upright piano in form. It is characterized by great strength and sweetness of tone.

Eu"pho*nous (?), n. Euphonious. [R.]

Eu"pho*ny (?), n.; pl. Euphonies (#). [L. euphonia, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; sweet-voiced; e'y^ well + &?; sound, voice; akin to &?; to speak: cf. F. euphonie.] A pleasing or sweet sound; an easy, smooth enunciation of sounds; a pronunciation of letters and syllables which is pleasing to the ear.

||Eu*phor"bi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. L. euphorbea. See Euphorrium.] (Bot.) Spurge, or bastard spurge, a genus of plants of many species, mostly shrubby, herbaceous succulents, affording an acrid, milky juice. Some of them are armed with thorns. Most of them yield powerful emetic and cathartic products.

{ Eu*phor`bi*a"ceous (?), Eu*phor"bi*al (?), } a. (Bot.) Of, relating to, or resembling, the Euphorbia family.

{ Eu*phor"bin, Eu*phor"bine } (?), n. (Med.) A principle, or mixture of principles, derived from various species of Euphorbia.

Eu*phor"bi*um (?), n. [NL., fr. L. euphorbeum, from Gr. &?;; -- so called after Euphorbus, a Greek physician.] (Med.) An inodorous exudation, usually in the form of yellow tears, produced chiefly by the African Euphorbia resinifera. It was formerly employed medicinally, but was found so violent in its effects that its use is nearly abandoned.

Eu"pho*tide (?), n. [Gr. e'y^ well + &?;, &?;, light. So called because of its pleasing combination of white and green.] (Min.) A rock occurring in the Alps, consisting of saussurite and smaragdite; -- sometimes called gabbro.

Eu"phra*sy ("fr*s), n. [NL. euphrasia, fr. Gr. e'yfrasi`a delight, fr. e'yfrai`nein to delight; e'y^ well + frh`n heart, mind: cf. LL. eufrasia, F. eufraise.] (Bot.) The plant eyebright (Euphrasia officionalis), formerly regarded as beneficial in disorders of the eyes.

Then purged with euphrasy and rue The visual nerve, for he had much to see.

Milton.

Eu"phroe (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A block or long slat of wood, perforated for the passage of the crowfoot, or cords by which an awning is held up. [Written also uphroe and uvrou.] Knight.

Eu"phu*ism ("f*z'm), n. [Gr. e'yfyh`s well grown, graceful; e'y^ well + fyh` growth, fr. fy`ein to grow. This affected style of conversation and writing, fashionable for some time in the court of Elizabeth, had its origin from the fame of Lyly's books, "Euphues, or the Anatomy of Wit," and "Euphues and his England."] (Rhet.) An affectation of excessive elegance and refinement of language; high-flown diction.

Eu"phu*ist, n. One who affects excessive refinement and elegance of language; -- applied esp. to a class of writers, in the age of Elizabeth, whose productions are marked by affected conceits and high-flown diction.

Eu`phu*is"tic (?), a. Belonging to the euphuists, or euphuism; affectedly refined.