periphrastic

WOTD – 10 February 2010    

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek περίφρασις (periphrasis).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˌpɛ.ɹɪˈfɹæ.stik/
• (Canada) IPA: /ˌpɛ.ɹəˈfɹæ.stɪk/
• (US) IPA: /ˌpɛ.ɹəˈfɹæ.stɪk/
• Rhymes: -æstɪk

Adjective

periphrastic (not comparable)

1. Expressed in more words than are necessary.
   • 1916, Martin Brown Ruud, An Essay Toward a History of Shakespeare in Norway

     As poetry it does not measure up to Aasen; as translation it is periphrastic, arbitrary, not at all faithful.

2. Indirect in naming an entity; circumlocutory.
   • 1870, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Vril: The Power of the Coming Race

     In writing, they deem it irreverent to express the Supreme Being [… and] in conversation they generally use a periphrastic epithet, such as the All-Good.

3. (grammar) Characterized by periphrase or circumlocution.
   • 1940 T. S. Eliot, East Coker "That was a way of putting it—not very satisfactory/ A periphrastic study in a worn-out poetical fashion/ Leaving one still with the intolerable wrestle / With words and meanings."

   “The daughter of the man” may be used as a periphrastic synonym for “the man’s daughter”.

Related terms

• periphrase
• periphrasis
• periphrastic conjugation

Translations

expressed in more words than are necessary

• Dutch: perifrastisch (nl), uitvoerig (nl), omschrijvend (nl)
• French: périphrastique (fr)

• Spanish: perifrástico (es) m and f

indirect in naming an entity; circumlocutory

• Dutch: perifrastisch (nl), uitvoerig (nl), omschrijvend (nl)

• Russian: иносказательный (ru) (inoskazatelʹnyj)

grammar: characterized by periphrase or circumlocution

• Dutch: perifrastisch (nl), uitvoerig (nl), omschrijvend (nl)
• French: périphrastique (fr) m and f

• Spanish: perifrástico (es) m and f