periphrasis
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Prince Bumpo, the heir to the throne, is a mooncalf who mistakes fairy tales for real life, speaks in Elizabethan periphrasis and murmurs to himself: “If only I were a white prince!”
From New York Times ● Sep. 9, 2020
This periphrasis so fascinated Charles W. Morton, now the associate editor of the Atlantic, that he began collecting examples of "Elongated Yellow Fruit" writing.
From Time Magazine Archive
Oddly, they all speak the same puckish periphrasis.
From Time Magazine Archive
Louie smiled at the periphrasis, and then considered.
From The Story of Louie by Oliver [pseud.] Onions
All transitive verbs involve the notion of cause as activity, and would have to be replaced by some cumbrous periphrasis before this notion could be eliminated.
From Our Knowledge of the External World as a Field for Scientific Method in Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
This confusion of Pagan and Christian mythology is increased by his habit of finding classical periphrases for the expression of religious ideas.
From Renaissance in Italy: Italian Literature Part 1 (of 2) by John Addington Symonds
The simple, concrete phrases of daily speech had given way to stately periphrases; the rich and riotous vocabulary of earlier poetry had been replaced by one more decorous, measured, and high-sounding.
From Lady of the Lake by William Vaughn Moody
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.
From Middlemarch by George Eliot
In ordinary conversation do not seek periphrases, subtleties, or figures of speech.
From George Washington's Rules of Civility Traced to their Sources and Restored by Moncure D. Conway by Moncure Daniel Conway
All who have even a slight acquaintance with sagas know the extraordinary periphrases for common objects, for men and maidens, for ships and swords, that bestrew them.
From The Flourishing of Romance and the Rise of Allegory (Periods of European Literature, vol. II) by George Saintsbury
Vocabulary lists containing periphrasis
Reading: Literature - Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - High School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Rhetoric
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Around and Around: Peri
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
