periphrasis
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periphrasis
- /pəˈɹɪfɹəsɪs/ Canada, UK, US
Where it comes from
From Ancient Greek περίφρασις (períphrasis).
noun periphrases
-
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
Similar: circumlocution, loquaciousness
- 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".
- 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.
- The use of a proper name as a shorthand to stand for qualities associated with it.
Translations
Every language
noun use of a longer expression instead of a shorter one
| Español | perífrasis |
|---|---|
| Português | perífrase |
| Français | périphrase |
| Italiano | perifrasi |
| Ελληνικά | περίφραση perífrasi |
| Русский | перифра́з perifráz, перифра́за perifráza |
Talk about this word "periphrasis." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/periphrasis. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. periphrasis. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/periphrasis "periphrasis." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/periphrasis.Cite this
@misc{periphrasis_2026,
title = {periphrasis},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/periphrasis},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
