Ambiguous or roundabout figure of speech.
Synonyms
Examples for "circumlocution"
Examples for "circumlocution"
1
Pope dislikes a simple term and loves a circumlocution and an abstraction.
2
He defined the nature and crime of treason with elaboration and circumlocution.
3
The first is that it uses circumlocution rather than short straight speech.
4
So without circumlocution she went and offered to take the sinking child.
5
All your circumlocution and your fine words are simply an additional insult.
1
Why does the Evangelist not say, without that periphrasis, 'healed the sick'?
2
The provincial word emparamarse can be translated only by a very long periphrasis.
3
He had a cunning mastery of periphrasis, and a telling command of adverbs.
4
He often expresses the commonest thoughts in a studied periphrasis.
5
This they contrived by the ready expedient of the periphrasis.
1
Flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation, circumduction, pronation, supination, and the lateral movements.
2
"Here it is: a 'telltale circumduction of his right leg.' That means he rolls it out slightly with each step."
1
The doctor still answered per ambages, ut mos oraculis.
2
There should be ambages in such a matter.
3
And the ambages should take time.
4
It is true, in doing this, I may perhaps be obliged to use some AMBAGES, and ways of speech not common.
5
No "longæ ambages" for him.
1
Never did a monarch hold so steadfastly to a deadly purpose, or proceed so languidly and with so much circumvolution to his goal.
2
Tell me, then, for you can, in what periphrasis of language, in what circumvolution of phrase, I shall envelope, yet not conceal, the plain story.
3
This "Ariadne's thread" easily follows all sinuosities, and adapts itself to all circumvolutions.
Catalan