Euphues etymology

Etymology:

  • Greek: "eu" (well) + "phues" (nature)

Meaning:

  • A person of good nature or disposition
  • A person who is elegant, refined, or charming
  • An artificial or affected style of speaking or writing

Origin:

The term "euphues" was coined by the English writer John Lyly in his 1578 novel "Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit." Lyly's protagonist, Euphues, is a young Athenian nobleman who travels to England and becomes renowned for his eloquence and elaborate prose style.

Lyly's novel was immensely popular in its time and had a profound influence on Elizabethan literature and language. The term "euphuism" came to describe the artificial and ornamental style of writing that Lyly employed, characterized by:

  • Antitheses and parallelisms
  • Allusions to classical literature and mythology
  • Use of similes and metaphors
  • Extensive use of rhetorical devices

Over time, the term "euphues" came to be used more generally to refer to someone who is well-bred, cultured, or elegant. It is still used in this sense today, although it is somewhat archaic.

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