Euphony

/ˈjuːfəni/ noun

Definition

The quality of having a pleasing or harmonious sound, especially in language or music.

Etymology

From Greek 'eu' (well) + 'phone' (sound). First used in English in the 17th century to describe the aesthetic principle that certain word combinations and sound arrangements are more beautiful than others.

Kelly Says

Euphony is why poets carefully arrange words—'the silken, whispering willows' sounds beautiful, while 'the rough, harsh shrubs' sounds harsh, and poets exploit this to create emotional effects without you even realizing it.

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