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periphrasis

[ puh-rif-ruh-sis ]
/ pəˈrɪf rə sɪs /
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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 nervous system, peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumour, peripheral vision, peripheric, periphery, periphrasis, periphrastic, periphyton, periplasm, periproct, peripteral
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to periphrasis

attrition, diffuseness, discursiveness, euphemism, indirectness, pleonasm, prolixity, roundabout, tautology, verbiage, wordiness, circumlocution, overabundance, profusion, superabundance, supererogation, superfluity, verboseness, verbosity, expansiveness

How to use periphrasis in a sentence

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
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