What does periphrasis mean?
Definitions for periphrasis
pəˈrɪf rə sɪs; -ˌsizpe·riphra·sis
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word periphrasis.
Princeton's WordNet
circumlocution, periphrasis, ambagenoun
a style that involves indirect ways of expressing things
Wiktionary
periphrasisnoun
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".
periphrasisnoun
Expressing a grammatical meaning (such as a tense) using a syntactic construction rather than morphological marking.
periphrasisnoun
The substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name (a species of circumlocution)
periphrasisnoun
The use of a proper name as a shorthand to stand for qualities associated with it.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Periphrasisnoun
Circumlocution; use of many words to express the sense of one: as, for death, we may say, the loss of life.
Etymology: πεϱίφϱασις; periphrase, Fr.
They make the gates of Thebes and the mouths of this river a constant periphrasis for this number seven. Brown.
She contains all bliss,
And makes the world but her periphrasis. John Cleveland.They shew their learning uselesly, and make a long periphrasis on every word of the book they explain. Isaac Watts.
The periphrases and circumlocutions, by which expresses the single act of dying, have supplied succeeding poets with all their manners of phrasing it. Alexander Pope.
Wikipedia
Periphrasis
In linguistics, periphrasis () is the use of one or more function words to express meaning that otherwise may be expressed by attaching an affix or clitic to a word. The resulting phrase includes two or more collocated words instead of one inflected word. The word periphrasis originates from the Greek word periphrazein, which means talking around.Periphrastic forms are a characteristic of analytic languages, whereas the absence of periphrasis is a characteristic of synthetic languages. While periphrasis concerns all categories of syntax, it is most visible with verb catena. The verb catenae of English (verb phrases constructed with auxiliary verbs) are highly periphrastic.
ChatGPT
periphrasis
Periphrasis is a rhetorical or stylistic device in literature where an author or speaker uses a more elaborate or roundabout phrase instead of a concise, short form. It often involves using multiple words to express something that could have been stated more directly. It is used to create emphasis, add clarity, or infuse a statement with elegance or sophistication. It can also sometimes be used to avoid using a certain term directly.
Webster Dictionary
Periphrasisnoun
see Periphrase
Etymology: [L.]
Wikidata
Periphrasis
In linguistics, periphrasis is a device by which grammatical meaning is expressed by one or more free morphemes, instead of by inflectional affixes or derivation. Periphrastic forms are analytic, whereas the absence of periphrasis is a characteristic of synthesis. While periphrasis concerns all categories of syntax, it is most visible with verb catenae. The verb catenae of English are highly periphrastic.
Matched Categories
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of periphrasis in Chaldean Numerology is: 3
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of periphrasis in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
References
Translations for periphrasis
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- perífrasiCatalan, Valencian
- περίφρασηGreek
- perífrasisSpanish
- perifraasiFinnish
- périphraseFrench
- perífraseGalician
- perifrasiItalian
- perífrasePortuguese
Get even more translations for periphrasis »
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"periphrasis." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/periphrasis>.
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