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paraphrase

noun, verb — 3 senses

paraphrase

noun

/ˈpæɹəfɹeɪz/

Etymology From Middle French paraphrase, from Latin paraphrasis, from Ancient Greek παράφρασις (paráphrasis). Doublet of paraphrasis.

1

A restatement of a text in different words, often to clarify meaning or from memory rather than verbatim.

  • Near-synonym: paraphrasis
  • close paraphrase
1 more example
  • The article included a brief paraphrase of the speech.
2

Scotland One of a certain number of Scripture passages turned into verse for use in the service of praise.

Derived terms
paraphrastic, paraphrastical, paraphrastically
Related terms
Etymology of translation, metaphrase

paraphrase

verb

Etymology From Middle French paraphrase, from Latin paraphrasis, from Ancient Greek παράφρασις (paráphrasis). Doublet of paraphrasis.

1

Ambitransitive To restate something as, or to compose a paraphrase. To repeat a written or spoken phrase/quote using different words, often in a simpler and shorter form, or sometimes in a humorous context.

  • She asked the student to paraphrase the passage.
Derived terms
misparaphrase, paraphrasability, paraphrasable, paraphrasal, paraphrasist, unparaphrasable, unparaphrased
Related terms
in other words, or words to that effect

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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