The Collaborative International Dictionary
Periphrasis \Pe*riph"ra*sis\, n.; pl. Periphrases. [L.] See Periphrase.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (plural of periphrase English) circumlocutions. 2 (plural of periphrasis English) use of syntactic rather than morphological constructions. vb. (en-third-person singular of: periphrase)
WordNet
n. a style that involves indirect ways of expressing things [syn: circumlocution, ambage]
[also: periphrases (pl)]
See periphrasis
Usage examples of "periphrases".
Below, it was stated, with the usual legal periphrases, that he left all he possessed to Margot Beste-Chetwynde.
It is worthy of remark, that the age of periphrases in verse was the age of crudities in prose.
All these things might be alleged against Lydgate, but then, they are the periphrases of a polite preacher, who talks of Adam, and would not like to mention anything painful to the pew-renters.