periphrasis
|pe-riph-ra-sis|
C2
/pəˈrɪfrəsɪs/
indirect expression
Etymology
Etymology Information
'periphrasis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'periphrasis,' where 'peri-' meant 'around' and 'phrazein' meant 'to speak.'
Historical Evolution
'periphrasis' changed from the Greek word 'periphrasis' and eventually became the modern English word 'periphrasis'.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'speaking around,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'indirect speech or writing.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the use of indirect and circumlocutory speech or writing.
The author employed periphrasis to add a layer of complexity to the narrative.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41