euphemism |ˈyo͞ofəˌmizəm| nouna mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing:“downsizing” as a euphemism for cuts. The opposite of dysphemism.
dysphemism |ˈdisfəˌmizəm| nouna derogatory or unpleasant term used instead of a pleasant or neutral one, such as “loony bin” for “mental hospital.” The opposite of euphemism.
collateral |kəˈlatərəl, kəˈlatrəl| noun1 something pledged as security for repayment of a loan, to be forfeited in the event of a default.2 a person having the same descent in a family as another but by a different line.adjective1 additional but subordinate; secondary: the collateral meanings of a word.• used euphemistically to refer to inadvertent casualties among civilians and destruction in civilian areas in the course of military operations: munitions must be able to destroy the target without causing collateral damage| collateral casualties.2 descended from the same stock but by a different line: a collateral descendant of George Washington.3 situated side by side; parallel: collateral veins.
inadvertent |ˌinədˈvərtnt| adjectivenot resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning: an inadvertent administrative error occurred that resulted in an overpayment.
casualty |ˈkaZH(o͞o)əltē| noun (pl. casualties) a person killed or injured in a war or accident.• a person or thing badly affected by an event or situation: the building industry has been one of the casualties of the recession.• (chiefly in insurance) an accident, mishap, or disaster.ORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense ‘chance, a chance occurrence’): from medieval Latin casualitas, from casualis (see casual), on the pattern of words such as penalty.
civilian |səˈvilyən| nouna person not in the armed services or the police force.• informal a person who is not a member of a particular profession or group, as viewed by a member of that group: I talk to a lot of actresses and they say that civilians are scared of them.adjectiveof, denoting, or relating to a person not belonging to the armed services or police: military agents in civilian clothes.
dysphemism |ˈdisfəˌmizəm| nouna derogatory or unpleasant term used instead of a pleasant or neutral one, such as “loony bin” for “mental hospital.” The opposite of euphemism.
collateral |kəˈlatərəl, kəˈlatrəl| noun1 something pledged as security for repayment of a loan, to be forfeited in the event of a default.2 a person having the same descent in a family as another but by a different line.adjective1 additional but subordinate; secondary: the collateral meanings of a word.• used euphemistically to refer to inadvertent casualties among civilians and destruction in civilian areas in the course of military operations: munitions must be able to destroy the target without causing collateral damage| collateral casualties.2 descended from the same stock but by a different line: a collateral descendant of George Washington.3 situated side by side; parallel: collateral veins.
inadvertent |ˌinədˈvərtnt| adjectivenot resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning: an inadvertent administrative error occurred that resulted in an overpayment.
casualty |ˈkaZH(o͞o)əltē| noun (pl. casualties) a person killed or injured in a war or accident.• a person or thing badly affected by an event or situation: the building industry has been one of the casualties of the recession.• (chiefly in insurance) an accident, mishap, or disaster.ORIGIN late Middle English (in the sense ‘chance, a chance occurrence’): from medieval Latin casualitas, from casualis (see casual), on the pattern of words such as penalty.
civilian |səˈvilyən| nouna person not in the armed services or the police force.• informal a person who is not a member of a particular profession or group, as viewed by a member of that group: I talk to a lot of actresses and they say that civilians are scared of them.adjectiveof, denoting, or relating to a person not belonging to the armed services or police: military agents in civilian clothes.
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