1. affected literary style: a literary style of the 16th and 17th centuries characterized by excessive use of devices such as alliteration, antithesis, and simile
2. affected language or expression: an affected or pompous expression or use of language
(
formal
)
[Late 16th century. After Euphues, fictional character in the works of John Lyly (c. 1554-1606), English writer]
