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periphrasis

[ puh-rif-ruh-sis ]
/ pəˈrɪf rə sɪs /
See synonyms for periphrasis on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural pe·riph·ra·ses [puh-rif-ruh-seez]. /pəˈrɪf rəˌsiz/.

the use of an unnecessarily long or roundabout form of expression; circumlocution.
an expression phrased in such fashion.

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Also per·i·phrase [per-uh-freyz]. /ˈpɛr əˌfreɪz/.

Origin of periphrasis

1525–35; <Latin <Greek períphrasis.See peri-, phrase, -sis

Words nearby periphrasis

peripheral vascular disease, peripheral vision, peripheric, periphery, periphlebitis, periphrasis, periphrastic, periphyton, periplasm, periporitis, periproct
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to periphrasis

attrition, redundancy, verbosity, circumlocution, loquacity, prolixity, pleonasm, floridity, tautology, long-windedness, expansiveness, profusion, overabundance, superabundance, superfluity, verboseness, verbiage, supererogation, diffusion, garrulity

Example sentences from the Web for periphrasis

British Dictionary definitions for periphrasis

periphrasis
/ (pəˈrɪfrəsɪs) /

noun plural -rases (-rəˌsiːz)

a roundabout way of expressing something; circumlocution
an expression of this kind

Word Origin for periphrasis

C16: via Latin from Greek, from peri- + phrazein to declare
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012