periphrastic
English
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periphrastic
- /ˌpɛ.ɹɪˈfɹæ.stɪk/ UK
- /ˌpɛ.ɹəˈfɹæ.stɪk/ Canada, US
Rhymes with -æstɪk
Where it comes from
Borrowed from Ancient Greek περιφραστικός (periphrastikós), from περίφρασις (períphrasis, “periphrasis”).
adjective periphrasic
- Expressed in more words than are necessary. He wrote a periphrastic love letter to his wife to patch up their relationship.
- Indirect in naming an entity; circumlocutory. In writing, they deem it irreverent to express the Supreme Being [and] in conversation they generally use a periphrastic epithet, such as the All-Good.
- Characterized by periphrasis. “The daughter of the man” may be used as a periphrastic synonym for “the man’s daughter”.
Translations
Every language
adj expressed in more words than are necessary
| Español | perifrástico |
|---|---|
| Português | perifrástico |
| Français | périphrastique |
| Ελληνικά | περιφραστικός perifrastikós |
| Русский | многосло́вный mnogoslóvnyj |
adj indirect in naming an entity; circumlocutory
| Ελληνικά | περιφραστικός perifrastikós |
|---|---|
| Русский | иносказа́тельный inoskazátelʹnyj |
adj grammar: characterized by periphrase or circumlocution
| Español | perifrástico |
|---|---|
| Português | perifrástico |
| Français | périphrastique |
| Ελληνικά | περιφραστικός perifrastikós |
Talk about this word "periphrastic." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/periphrastic. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026. periphrastic. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/periphrastic "periphrastic." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 5, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/periphrastic.Cite this
@misc{periphrastic_2026,
title = {periphrastic},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/periphrastic},
urldate = {2026-11-05}
}
