periphrastic
English
WOTD – 10 February 2010
Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek περιφραστικός (periphrastikós), from περίφρασις (períphrasis, “periphrasis”).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˌpɛ.ɹɪˈfɹæ.stik/
- (Canada) IPA(key): /ˌpɛ.ɹəˈfɹæ.stɪk/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˌpɛ.ɹəˈfɹæ.stɪk/
- Rhymes: -æstɪk
Adjective
periphrastic (comparative more periphrastic, superlative most periphrastic)
- Expressed in more words than are necessary.
- 1916, Martin Brown Ruud, An Essay Toward a History of Shakespeare in Norway
- As poetry it does not measure up to Aasen; as translation it is periphrastic, arbitrary, not at all faithful.
- 1940, T. S. Eliot, East Coker:
- "That was a way of putting it—not very satisfactory/ A periphrastic study in a worn-out poetical fashion/ Leaving one still with the intolerable wrestle / With words and meanings."
- 1916, Martin Brown Ruud, An Essay Toward a History of Shakespeare in Norway
- Indirect in naming an entity; circumlocutory.
- 1870, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Vril: The Power of the Coming Race
- 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.
- 1870, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Vril: The Power of the Coming Race
- (grammar) Characterized by periphrasis.
- “The daughter of the man” may be used as a periphrastic synonym for “the man’s daughter”.
Related terms
- periphrase
- periphrasis
- periphrastic conjugation
Translations
expressed in more words than are necessary
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indirect in naming an entity; circumlocutory
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grammar: characterized by periphrase or circumlocution
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