periphrasis

noun

Etymology: From Ancient Greek περίφρασις (períphrasis).

1. The use of a longer expression instead of a shorter one with a similar meaning, for example "I am going to" instead of "I will".
2. Expressing a grammatical meaning (such as a tense) using a syntactic construction rather than morphological marking.

   “Language learners sometimes use periphrases like "did go" where a native speaker would use "went".”

   “Native speakers use periphrases like "did not go" where a language learner might use "went not".”

3. The substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name (a type of circumlocution).

   “Periphrasis a single thought expands, And uses many words for what but few demands.”

   “The "glen," or the "brake of the lion," is Pindar's favourite periphrasis for Nemea.”

4. The use of a proper name as a shorthand to stand for qualities associated with it.