What does periphrastic mean?
Periphrastic means Expressed in more words than are necessary..
Periphrastic
/ˌpɛ.ɹɪˈfɹæ.stik/ · adjective
Meaning
Expressed in more words than are necessary..
Definitions by Sense
- Expressed in more words than are necessary.
- Indirect in naming an entity; circumlocutory.
- (grammar) Characterized by periphrasis.
Example Sentences
He wrote a periphrastic love letter to his wife to patch up their relationship.
She was simply asked to express how she felt, but her response was periphrastic.
As poetry it does not measure up to Aasen; as translation it is periphrastic, arbitrary, not at all faithful.
That was a way of putting it—not very satisfactory/ A periphrastic study in a worn-out poetical fashion/ Leaving one still with the intolerable wrestle / With words and meanings.
In writing, they deem it irreverent to express the Supreme Being [and] in conversation they generally use a periphrastic epithet, such as the All-Good.
“The daughter of the man” may be used as a periphrastic synonym for “the man’s daughter”.
Synonyms for periphrastic
Antonyms for periphrastic
Related Words
Word Forms
- periphrasic
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for periphrastic?
Common synonyms include ambagious, indirect, circumlocutory, circumlocutious.
What is the opposite of periphrastic?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use periphrastic in a sentence?
He wrote a periphrastic love letter to his wife to patch up their relationship.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.