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Dec 9, 2010
This week's themeWhat to avoid when using words
This week's words
pleonasm
apophasis
sesquipedality
periphrasis
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with Anu Gargperiphrasis
PRONUNCIATION:
(puh-RIF-ruh-sis) 
MEANING:
noun: A roundabout way of saying something, using more words than necessary. ETYMOLOGY:
Via Latin, from Greek periphrasis, from periphrazein (to explain around), from peri- (around) + phrazein (to speak, say). First recorded use: 1533. USAGE:
"Why the lawsuit? Pfizer said it had 'sought the assistance of the Philippine legal system' (an elegant periphrasis, that)."High Blood; Philippine Daily Inquirer (Manila, Philippines); Nov 19, 2006.
Explore "periphrasis" in the Visual Thesaurus.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
I have known a vast quantity of nonsense talked about bad men not looking you in the face. Don't trust that conventional idea. Dishonesty will stare honesty out of countenance, any day in the week, if there is anything to be got by it. -Charles Dickens, novelist (1812-1870) Word game suggestions from our sponsors:
| Rave reviews for the word game Orijinz "WOW!! WHAT FUN!" "Great great GREAT" A fun holiday gift. Only $14.95. | MooT - the Etymology and Semantics Game A great Xmas present for logophiles. | WildWords - Not Your Grandma's Game New tiles, squares, and rules put all words in play. See how. Very cool concepts. |
Books by Anu Garg
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