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Definition of periphrasis noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

periphrasis

noun
 
/pəˈrɪfrəsɪs/
 
/pəˈrɪfrəsɪs/
[uncountable]
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  1. (specialist) the use of an indirect way of speaking or writing
  2. (grammar) the use of separate words to express a grammatical relationship, instead of verb endings, etc.
    3. Word Originmid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek, from periphrazein, from peri- ‘around’ + phrazein ‘declare’.
See periphrasis in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
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Nearby words

pity
noun
 
 
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