noun, verb — 3 senses
UK /ˈpɛɹi.fɹeɪz/
Etymology From Latin periphrasis from Ancient Greek περίφρασις (períphrasis), from περιφράζομαι (periphrázomai, “to consider all sides of an issue”), from περί (perí, “around”) + φράζω (phrázō, “to show, point out”). See phrase.
Rhetoric The use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a roundabout, or indirect, way of speaking; circumlocution.
Etymology From Latin periphrasis from Ancient Greek περίφρασις (períphrasis), from περιφράζομαι (periphrázomai, “to consider all sides of an issue”), from περί (perí, “around”) + φράζω (phrázō, “to show, point out”). See phrase.
To express by periphrase or circumlocution.
To use circumlocution.
Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.