| periphrasis |
| Definition: The use of circumlocution (i.e., indirect and roundabout language). |
| Example: Four score and 20 years ago (i.e., 100 years ago) |
| Etymology: The word derives from the Greek periphrazein, speak in a roundabout way (from peri, round about + phrazein, to express). |
| Oxford English Dictionary: Its first citation is from 1533: "A fayre fygure, … that is I trowe called periphrasis." (More Apol. ix. Wks. 865/1) |