Meaning of Periphrasis | Babel Free

Definitions

1. 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".
   countable, uncountable
2. Expressing a grammatical meaning (such as a tense) using a syntactic construction rather than morphological marking.
   countable, uncountable
3. The substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name (a type of circumlocution).
   countable, rhetoric, uncountable
4. The use of a proper name as a shorthand to stand for qualities associated with it.
   countable, rhetoric, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“Language learners sometimes use periphrases like "did go" where a native speaker would use "went".”

“Native speakers use periphrases like "did not go" where a language learner might use "went not".”

“Periphrasis a single thought expands, And uses many words for what but few demands.”

“The "glen," or the "brake of the lion," is Pindar's favourite periphrasis for Nemea.”

CEFR level