Word: pleasantly
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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From a Greek word meaning "to use words of good omen," euphemism is the substitution of a pleasant term for a blunt one-telling it like it isn't. Euphemism has probably existed since the beginning of language. As long as there have been things of which men thought the less said the better, there have been better ways of saying less. In everyday conversation the euphemism is, at worst, a necessary evil; at its best, it is a handy verbal tool to avoid making enemies needlessly, or shocking friends. Language purists and the blunt-spoken may wince when...
...else would call at nine-thirty on Sunday morning?" Martin wasn't being very pleasant; that was a good start. But Susan didn't know what to say to that question, so Martin asked another one: "What did you want, Susan...
...COURSE ASSISTANT. It was Bunny Largess. Visiting Professor of Half-Truths, who formulated the now-famous rule on " choosing a course assistant. " In Bunny's own words. " Make sure he is cruder, more reactionary, and basically less pleasant than even you are. Then give him a free hand. " It is also important that the assistant be totally inept as a lecturer ( ideally he should drool as well as lisp ), and that he cast a favorable light on your physical appearance. [ In the event that your academic credentials are likewise open to question be careful to pick an assistant with ones...
...that the editors entirely renounced their pleasant vices. The paper's office moved around a good bit in those days and wherever it went there was a sanctum, the center of exuberant convivality. Franklin D. Roosevelt recalled years later the occasion of the transfer of quarters to the Union in 1891: "There was much fear that the new quarters would take away the espirit de corps which had grown up in the old sanctum, and also that no punch night could be held in the Union. Both fears proved to be groundless...
With the News out of the way, the CRIMSON was free to continue its gradual progress to financial solvency. In fact, mere solvency was replaced by unheard-of prosperity, and the Lampoon took advantage of the pleasant situation to issue the first local parody. Aided by a traitorous Crimed, the funnymen put out a spurious issue announcing, among other things, that the fat CRIMSON would give a $1 rebate to all subscribers who called at the office. The stunt left a good deal of hard feeling...