Main Entry: pe·riph·ra·sis

Pronunciation: \pə-ˈri-frə-səs\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural pe·riph·ra·ses \-ˌsēz\

Etymology: Latin, from Greek, from periphrazein to express periphrastically, from peri- + phrazein to point out

Date: 1533

1 : use of a longer phrasing in place of a possible shorter form of expression
2 : an instance of periphrasis