/ pəˈrɪfrəsɪs; NAmE / noun [ U ]
1.
( technical ) the use of an indirect way of speaking or writing
2.
( grammar ) the use of separate words to express a grammatical relationship, instead of verb endings, etc.
► peri·phras·tic / ˌperɪˈfræstɪk; NAmE / adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek , from periphrazein , from peri- around + phrazein declare.