euphuism - Hutchinson encyclopedia article about euphuism Printer Friendly
The Free Dictionary
1,082,018,877 visitors served.
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

euphuism

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.04 sec.

euphuism

Affected style of writing full of high-flown language and far-fetched metaphors, especially in imitation of English playwright John Lyly's Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit (1578) and Euphues and his England (1580).

Euphuism aimed to be artificial and affected in its desire for refinement. It was fashionable towards the end of Queen Elizabeth I's reign. Lyly, in addressing his writings chiefly to women, said he would rather see his works ‘lie shut in a lady's casket than open in a scholar's study’. His idea was not to improve, but to amuse.

Some commentators on Shakespeare have suggested that in Love's Labour's Lost he was satirizing the euphuists in the character of Don Adriano de Armado.



How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
 Email
Feedback
?Sign in SSL protected
Email:
Password:
Register

? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
"Generalstaatsverordnetenversammlungen" seems to be "General-statesrepresentativesmeetings," as nearly as I can get at it--a mere rhythmical, gushy euphuism for "meetings of the legislature," I judge.
A Tramp Abroad by Twain, Mark View in context
Men are naturally hunters and inquisitive of wood-craft, and I suppose that such a gazetteer as wood-cutters and Indians should furnish facts for, would take place in the most sumptuous drawing-rooms of all the "Wreaths" and "Flora's chaplets" of the bookshops; yet ordinarily, whether we are too clumsy for so subtle a topic, or from whatever cause, as soon as men begin to write on nature, they fall into euphuism.
Essays, Second Series by Emerson, Ralph Waldo View in context
More results
 
Hutchinson browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Hutchinson Encyclopedia
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.. Terms of Use.