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Periphrasis vs Circumlocution - What's the difference?

periphrasis | circumlocution |

Circumlocution is a synonym of periphrasis.



As nouns the difference between periphrasis and circumlocution

is that periphrasis is the use of a longer expression instead of a shorter one with a similar meaning, for example "I am going to" instead of "I will" while circumlocution is a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea.

periphrasis

Noun

(periphrases)
  • The use of a longer expression instead of a shorter one with a similar meaning, for example "I am going to" instead of "I will".
  • (linguistics) Expressing a grammatical meaning (such as a tense) using a syntactic construction rather than morphological marking.
  • (rhetoric) The substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name (a species of circumlocution)
  • (rhetoric) The use of a proper name as a shorthand to stand for qualities associated with it.
  • Synonyms

    * beat around the bush * circumlocution

    References

    *

    circumlocution

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea.
  • A roundabout expression. See also euphemism
  • Synonyms

    * beat around the bush * periphrasis * ambages

    Derived terms

    * circumlocutionary * circumlocutional