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  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Euphuism  \Eu"phu*ism\,  n.  [Gr.  ?  well  grown,  graceful;  ?  well  + 
  ?  growth,  fr  ?  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  euphuism 
  n  1:  any  artificially  elegant  style  of  language 
  2:  an  elegant  style  of  prose  of  the  Elizabethan  period; 
  characterized  by  balance  and  antithesis  and  alliteration 
  and  extended  similes  with  and  allusions  to  nature  and 
  mythology 

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