periphrastic

  • 1Periphrastic — Per i*phras tic, Periphrastical Per i*phras tic*al, a. [Gr. ?: cf. F. p[ e]riphrastique.] Expressing, or expressed, in more words than are necessary; characterized by periphrase; circumlocutory. [1913 Webster] {Periphrastic conjugation} (Gram.),… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2periphrastic — index indirect, redundant, turgid Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 3periphrastic — 1805, from Gk. periphrastikos, from periphrazein (see PERIPHRASIS (Cf. periphrasis)) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 4periphrastic — [per΄i fras′tik] adj. [ML periphrasticus < Gr periphrastikos] 1. of, like, or expressed in periphrasis 2. Gram. formed with a particle or an auxiliary verb instead of by inflection (Ex.: the phrase did sing used for the inflected form sang)… …

    English World dictionary

  • 5periphrastic — adjective /ˌpɛ.ɹɪˈfɹæ.stik,ˌpɛ.ɹəˈfɹæ.stɪk,ˌpɛ.ɹəˈfɹæ.stɪk/ a) Expressed in more words than are necessary. As poetry it does not measure up to Aasen; as translation it is periphrastic, arbitrary, not at all faithful. b) Indirect in naming an… …

    Wiktionary

  • 6periphrastic — adjective Date: 1805 1. of, relating to, or characterized by periphrasis 2. formed by the use of function words or auxiliaries instead of by inflection < more fair is a periphrastic comparative > • periphrastically adverb …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 7periphrastic — adjective the periphrastic nature of legal syntax Syn: circumlocutory, circuitous, roundabout, indirect, tautological, pleonastic, prolix, verbose, wordy, long winded, rambling, wandering, tortuous, diffuse …

    Thesaurus of popular words

  • 8periphrastic — /pɛriˈfræstɪk / (say peree frastik) adjective 1. circumlocutory; roundabout. 2. Grammar a. denoting a construction of two or more words with a class meaning which in other languages or in other forms of the same language is expressed by&#8230; …

  • 9periphrastic — periphrasis ► NOUN (pl. periphrases) ▪ the use of indirect and roundabout language; circumlocution. DERIVATIVES periphrastic adjective. ORIGIN from Greek peri around + phrazein declare …

    English terms dictionary

  • 10Periphrastic conjugation — Periphrastic Per i*phras tic, Periphrastical Per i*phras tic*al, a. [Gr. ?: cf. F. p[ e]riphrastique.] Expressing, or expressed, in more words than are necessary; characterized by periphrase; circumlocutory. [1913 Webster] {Periphrastic&#8230; …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English