Dictionary

periphrase en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɛɹi.fɹeɪz/ (UK)

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (countable, rhetoric, uncountable) The use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a roundabout, or indirect, way of speaking; circumlocution.
   • 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[…] 1863, George Eliot, Romola, Volume III, Book III, Chapter VI, page 56:
   • 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

Forms

Deriveds

periphrasic

Synonyms

periphrasis

periphrase en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɛɹi.fɹeɪz/ (UK)

Etymology

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

Meanings

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

Forms

Deriveds

unperiphrased