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periphrasis

pe·riph·ra·sis [ pə ríffrəssiss ] (plural pe·riph·ra·ses [ pə ríffrə sz ])


noun 
Definition:
 
1. circumlocution: the use of overly long or indirect language in order to say something

2. indirect statement: an expression that states something indirectly

[Mid-16th century. Via Latin< Greek< periphrazein, literally "explain around" < phrazein "explain"]
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