euphuism
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˈjuːfuːɪzəm/
- Archaic
- Many critics found the euphuism of his prose excessive and artificial.
Examples
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The author's use of euphuism made the novel difficult to read.
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The writer adopted a style of euphuism, delighting in ornate language and elaborate metaphors.
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In Elizabethan England, euphuism was admired by some and mocked by others for its affected elegance.
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Shakespeare often employed euphuism in his plays.
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The author's use of euphuism was evident in the intricate balance of her sentences and the elaborate similes throughout her novel.
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Many critics praised the euphuism found in the playwright's dialogue, highlighting its ornate phrasing and rich literary devices.
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Even though modern readers may find euphuism excessive, its charm lies in the beauty of the language and the clever use of alliteration.
Synonyms
1
9.9
Language that tries to sound important but has little meaning
1
9.9
Speech or writing that uses big, fancy words to sound important
The use of very fancy, detailed language or style that feels too much
How Ornate
Surface Forms
Morphology
euphuism = euphues (opaque) = euph + ism
'Euphuism' is derived from the literary character 'Euphues', not from productive English morphemes.
Etymology
The word euphuism comes from the name of a fictional writer, Euphues, whose very fancy, showy style in the 1500s became famous. The name also has the Greek part eu- meaning 'good', seen in euphoria, so euphuism now means a highly decorated, artificial way of writing.