periphrastic

adj

Etymology: Borrowed from Ancient Greek περιφραστικός (periphrastikós), from περίφρασις (períphrasis, “periphrasis”).

1. Expressed in more words than are necessary.

   “He wrote a periphrastic love letter to his wife to patch up their relationship.”

   “She was simply asked to express how she felt, but her response was periphrastic.”

2. Indirect in naming an entity; circumlocutory.

   “In writing, they deem it irreverent to express the Supreme Being [and] in conversation they generally use a periphrastic epithet, such as the All-Good.”

3. Characterized by periphrasis.

   ““The daughter of the man” may be used as a periphrastic synonym for “the man’s daughter”.”