periphrastic

[ per-uh-fras-tik ]

adjective

1. circumlocutory; roundabout.
2. Grammar. noting a construction of two or more words having the same syntactic function as an inflected word, as of Mr. Smith in the son of Mr. Smith, which is equivalent to Mr. Smith's in Mr. Smith's son.

periphrastic

/ ˌpɛrɪˈfræstɪk /

adjective

1. employing or involving periphrasis
2. expressed in two or more words rather than by an inflected form of one: used esp of a tense of a verb where the alternative element is an auxiliary verb. For example, He does go and He will go involve periphrastic tenses

Derived Forms

• ˌperiˈphrastically, adverb

Other Words From

• peri·phrasti·cal·ly adverb
• unper·i·phrastic adjective
• unper·i·phrasti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of periphrastic¹

1795–1805; < Greek periphrastikós, derivative of periphrázein to use periphrasis. See peri-, phrase, -tic

Example Sentences

This was supplied, in the common periphrastic manner, by the help of the preposition and the article.

From Project Gutenberg

When the present is found not to be distinctive enough, periphrastic forms come in.

From Project Gutenberg

This tendency, together with periphrastic instead of verbal conjugation, continued to the end.

From Project Gutenberg

In conversation they generally use a periphrastic epithet, such as the All-Good.

From Project Gutenberg

As poetry it does not measure up to Aasen; as translation it is periphrastic, arbitrary, not at all faithful.

From Project Gutenberg