periphrase

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.

So far as consistent with due precision, popular terms have been used in description, but not when such usage involved tedious periphrase.

From Handbook of the Trees of New England by Dame, Lorin Low

Leaving out the delicate and difficult periphrase by which her mother's shame would have to be explained to an innocent school-girl—what right could he have assumed to tell it?

From A Ward of the Golden Gate by Harte, Bret

But her further questioning was met with a frank, amiable, and simple brevity that was as puzzling as the most artful periphrase of tact.

From By Shore and Sedge by Harte, Bret

Then, mindful of the presence of the children, she proceeded by means of graceful periphrase and carefully studied generalizations to a presentation of Medora's mental and spiritual attributes.

From Under the Skylights by Fuller, Henry Blake

In writing of his version of the Odyssey to Ellis, Morris said: ‘My translation is a real one so far, not a mere periphrase of the original as all the others are.’

From The Translations of Beowulf A Critical Bibliography by Tinker, Chauncey Brewster