Word for the day periphrasis

J

Josiah

Senior Member
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periphrasis

\ puh-RIF-ruh-sis \ , noun;


1.
the use of an unnecessarily long or roundabout form of expression; circumlocution.

2.
an expression phrased in such fashion.



Definition of periphrasis| See synonyms| Comment on today's word| Suggest tomorrow's word

Quotes:
He had a cunning mastery of periphrasis , and a telling command of adverbs.
-- P. G. Wodehouse, Not George Washington , 1907

I feel that there is one cliché that sums up my position so admirably that it would be pure egotism to attempt a more interesting periphrasis .
-- Deborah Meyler, The Bookstore , 2013
 

I like both of those....but dropping them into casual conversation could be hard....
keep 'em coming Josiah...
 
Sesquipedalianism
by Stanley Cooper

Books that are comprised
Of words too oversized
Will most often be apprised
As writing that is wrong


There is value to simplicity
Which offers more explicitly
Soundings more exquisitely
When words are not too long


When writing poem or pros-ing
If one is pre-disposing
To wordy overdosing
It’s readers to ensnare


The piece will end up boring
Will need much editor-ing
And have its readers snoring
All writers must beware


So, away with lengthy word-iness
Get rid of wordy girth-iness
And write with wordy worth-iness
Long words should be indicted


Authors bent on clarity
Make foot-long words a rarity
And win more popularity
With readers most delighted
education-teaching-thesaurus-dictionary-vocab-definition-long_word-jhan1188_low.jpg
 
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