periphrase

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See also: périphrase

English

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Etymology

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From Latin periphrasis from Ancient Greek περίφρασις (períphrasis), from περιφράζομαι (periphrázomai, I consider all sides of an issue), from περί (perí, around) + φράζω (phrázō, I show, point out). See phrase.

Pronunciation

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  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpɛɹi.fɹeɪz/
  • Homophones: paraphrase (if the second vowel is pronounced as a schwa, as it sometimes is)

Noun

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periphrase (countable and uncountable, plural periphrases)

  1. (rhetoric) The use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a roundabout, or indirect, way of speaking; circumlocution.
    • 1821, Thomas De Quincey, John Paul Frederick Richter (published in London Magazine
      To describe all those on whom the fates of Troy hinged , by enigmatic periphrases
    • 1863, George Eliot, Romola, Volume III, Book III, Chapter VI, page 56:
      He held up the condition of the Church in the terrible mirror of his unflinching speech, which called things by their right names and dealt in no polite periphrases []

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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periphrase (third-person singular simple present periphrases, present participle periphrasing, simple past and past participle periphrased)

  1. (transitive) To express by periphrase or circumlocution.
  2. (intransitive) To use circumlocution.

References

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periphrase”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.