Dictionary

circumlocutory en · ADJ

From circumlocution + -ory; compare Medieval Latin circumlocūtōrius from Classical Latin circumlocūtiō.

Characterised by circumlocution; overly wordy
- 1727, Jonathan Swift (attributed), Martinus Scriblerus, or the Art of Sinking In Poetry Periphrase is another great aid to prolixity; being a diffused circumlocutory manner of expressing a known idea, which should be so mysteriously couched, as to give the reader the pleasure of guessing what it is, that the author can possibly mean; and a strange surprise, when he finds it.
- Another common type of error is a circumlocutory error, when the patient describes the item in several words (e.g., describing a beaver as "an animal that eats trees"). 2000, Joanne Green, Neuropsychological Evaluation of the Older Adult:
- Rachel's talks with the vicar were frequent; and poor little Mrs. William Wylder, who knew not the reason of his visits, fell slowly, and to the good man's entire bewilderment, into a chronic jealousy. It expressed itself enigmatically; it was circumlocutory, sad, and mysterious. 1864, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, chapter LII, in Wylder’s Hand. […], New York, N.Y.: Carleton, […], published 1865, →OCLC:

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
more circumlocutory	Degree=Cmp		lexicographic
most circumlocutory	Degree=Sup		lexicographic