accismus Definition
a form of irony in which a person feigns indifference to or pretends to refuse something they actually desire.
Using accismus: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "accismus" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
When she said, 'Oh, I couldn't possibly accept such a generous gift,' it was an example of accismus.
Example
His accismus was transparent when he said, 'I don't really care about winning the award.'
Origins of accismus
from Greek 'akismos', meaning 'a refusal'
Summary: accismus in Brief
'Accismus' [ak-si-muhโs] is a form of irony in which a person pretends to refuse or feigns indifference to something they actually desire. It is often used to express modesty or humility, but can also be used to express sarcasm or insincerity. Examples of accismus include saying 'I couldn't possibly accept such a generous gift' while secretly wanting it, or pretending not to care about winning an award while actually desiring it.
