periphrases

Noun

periphrase (countable and uncountable, plural periphrases)

1. (rhetoric) The use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a roundabout, or indirect, way of speaking; circumlocution.
   • To describe all those on whom the fates of Troy hinged , by enigmatic periphrases1821, Thomas De Quincey, John Paul Frederick Richter (published in London Magazine

   Synonyms:

   periphrasis

See all 3 meanings of periphrase

Noun

periphrasis (countable and uncountable, plural periphrases)

1. The use of a longer expression instead of a shorter one with a similar meaning, for example "I am going to" instead of "I will".
   • Near-synonyms: circumlocution, loquaciousness

   Synonyms:

   circumlocution, loquaciousness

2. Expressing a grammatical meaning (such as a tense) using a syntactic construction rather than morphological marking.
   • Language learners sometimes use periphrases like "did go" where a native speaker would use "went".
3. (rhetoric) The substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name (a type of circumlocution).
   • Periphrasis a single thought expands,
     And uses many words for what but few demands.1835, L[arret] Langley, “[Rhetorical Figures.] Periphrasis.”, in A Manual of the Figures of Rhetoric, […], Doncaster, South Yorkshire: […] C. White, […], →OCLC, page 37
4. (rhetoric) The use of a proper name as a shorthand to stand for qualities associated with it.