Definition:
An elaborately patterned prose style, characterized by the extensive use of similes and metaphors, balanced constructions, alliteration, and antithesis. See also: Good Advice from the World's Worst Writer.
Etymology:
From John Lyly's ornately florid Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit (1579): from the Greek, "to grow, bring forth"Examples:
- "The freshest colours soonest fade, the teenest razor soonest turneth his edge, the finest cloth is soonest eaten with moths, and the cambric sooner stained than the coarse canvas: which appeared well in this Euphues, whose wit, being like wax, apt to receive any impression, and bearing the head in his own hand, either to use the rein or the spur, disdaining counsel, leaving his country, loathing his old acquaintance, thought either by wit to obtain some conquest, or by shame to abide some conflict; who, preferring fancy before friends and his present humour before honour to come, laid reason in water, being too salt for his taste, and followed unbridled affection, most pleasant for his tooth."
(John Lyly, from Euphues, 1579) - "Nothing daunted at the staunch refusal of different divines, whose modest walk was interrupted by their bold assertion of loathsome rights, they moved on, while laughs of hidden rage and defeat flitted across their doll-decked faces, to die as they next accosted some rustic-looking critics, who, tempted with their polished twang, their earnest advances, their pitiful entreaties, yielded, in their ignorance of the ways of a large city, to their glossy offers, and accompanied, with slight hesitation, these artificial shells of immorality to their homes of ruin, degradation and shame."
(Amanda McKittrick Ros, Delina Delaney, 1898)
Pronunciation: YOO-few-izm
Also Known As: Asianism, aureate diction
