| circumlocution (linguistics) |
| Definition: In linguistics, it denotes the expression of grammatical relationships by using meaning (e.g., phrases or idioms) instead of structure (e.g., inflection). |
| Example:
(1) the horse that David owns (possession shown by meaning) vs (2) David's horse (possession shown by inflection) |
| Etymology:
The word derives from the Latin circumlocutionem, speaking around (from circum, around + locutionem, a speaking). Note: It was coined as a loan-translation of the Greek periphrasis, speaking around. |
| Oxford English Dictionary: The word's first OED citation is from circa 1510: "When thou must in speche touche … Such maners unclenly, use circumlocution." (Barclay Mirr. Good Mann. (1570) Fvj,) |