periphrastic

[ per-uh-fras-tik ]

adjective

1. circumlocutory; roundabout.
2. Grammar. noting a construction of two or more words having the same syntactic function as an inflected word, as of Mr. Smith in the son of Mr. Smith, which is equivalent to Mr. Smith's in Mr. Smith's son.

periphrastic

/ ˌpɛrɪˈfræstɪk /

adjective

1. employing or involving periphrasis
2. expressed in two or more words rather than by an inflected form of one: used esp of a tense of a verb where the alternative element is an auxiliary verb. For example, He does go and He will go involve periphrastic tenses

Derived Forms

• ˌperiˈphrastically, adverb

Other Words From

• peri·phrasti·cal·ly adverb
• unper·i·phrastic adjective
• unper·i·phrasti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of periphrastic¹

1795–1805; < Greek periphrastikós, derivative of periphrázein to use periphrasis. See peri-, phrase, -tic

Example Sentences

But it seems to this reader, Rebecca becoming Maud also speaks to the preoccupation of this entire book: the periphrastic construction of identity itself.

From New York Times

HANGZHOU, China — The students were lined up in rows, listening intently as their professor, Li Wei, explained the periphrastic future tense.

From Washington Post

This is the only name known in Gaelic to the present hour for the month of August, except a periphrastic one meaning “the first month of autumn.”

From Project Gutenberg

Using these as auxiliaries the finite verb makes a whole series of periphrastic tenses.

From Project Gutenberg

They would have no unities, no arbitrary selection of subjects, no restraints on variety of versification, no academically limited vocabulary, no considerations of artificial beauty, and, above all, no periphrastic expression.

From Project Gutenberg