browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
periphrastic |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. {Periphrastic conjugation} (Gram.), a conjugation formed by the use of the simple verb with one or more auxiliaries. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: periphrastic adj : roundabout and unnecessarily wordy; "had a preference for circumlocutious (or circumlocutory) rather than forthright expression"; "A periphrastic study in a worn-out poetical fashion,/ Leaving one still with the intolerable wrestle/ With words and meanings."-T.S.Eliot; (`ambagious' is archaic) [syn: {circumlocutious}, {circumlocutory}, {ambagious}]
more about periphrastic
This work is licensed under a
