periphrase

HYPHEN

per=i=phrase

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CIDE DICTIONARY

periphrase, n. [L. periphrasis, Gr. , fr. to think about, to be expressed periphrastically; + to speak: cf. F. périphrase. See Phrase.].

The use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a roundabout, or indirect, way of speaking; circumlocution. De Quincey. [1913 Webster]

periphrase, v. t. [Cf. F. périphraser.].

To express by periphrase or circumlocution. [1913 Webster]

periphrase, v. i.

To use circumlocution. [1913 Webster]

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ROGET THESAURUS

periphrase

Phrase

N phrase, expression, set phrase, sentence, paragraph, figure of speech, idiom, idiotism, turn of expression, style, paraphrase, periphrase, motto, phraseology, expressed, idiomatic, in round terms, in set terms, in good set terms, set terms, in set phrases.

Diffuseness

N diffuseness, amplification, dilating, verbosity, verbiage, cloud of words, copia verborum, flow of words, looseness, Polylogy, tautology, battology, perissology, pleonasm, exuberance, redundancy, thrice-told tale, prolixity, circumlocution, ambages, periphrase, periphrasis, roundabout phrases, episode, expletive, pennya-lining, richness, diffuse, profuse, wordy, verbose, largiloquent, copious, exuberant, pleonastic, lengthy, longsome, long-winded, longspun, long drawn out, spun out, protracted, prolix, prosing, maundering, circumlocutory, periphrastic, ambagious, roundabout, digressive, discursive, excursive, loose, rambling episodic, flatulent, frothy, diffusely, at large, in extenso, about it and about it.