Circumlocution

  • 11circumlocution — UK [ˌsɜː(r)kəmləˈkjuːʃ(ə)n] / US [ˌsɜrkəmləˈkjuʃ(ə)n] noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms circumlocution : singular circumlocution plural circumlocutions formal the use of too many words to say something, especially in order to avoid saying… …

    English dictionary

  • 12circumlocution — noun Etymology: Middle English circumlocucyon, from Latin circumlocution , circumlocutio, from circum + locutio speech, from loqui to speak Date: 15th century 1. the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea 2. evasion in… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 13circumlocution — circumlocutory /serr keuhm lok yeuh tawr ee, tohr ee/, circumlocutional, circumlocutionary, adj. /serr keuhm loh kyooh sheuhn/, n. 1. a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea. 2. a… …

    Universalium

  • 14circumlocution — See locution. See locution, circumlocution …

    Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • 15circumlocution — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. paraphrase, periphrasis, indirection. See avoidance, diffuseness. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. periphrasis, verbal evasion, redundancy, rambling; see wordiness . III (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) (VOCABULARY… …

    English dictionary for students

  • 16circumlocution — noun when you ve finished your circumlocution, maybe you could just get to the point Syn: periphrasis, discursiveness, long windedness, verbosity, verbiage, wordiness, prolixity, redundancy, pleonasm, tautology, repetitiveness, repetitiousness …

    Thesaurus of popular words

  • 17circumlocution — n. 1 a a roundabout expression. b evasive talk. 2 the use of many words where fewer would do; verbosity. Derivatives: circumlocutional adj. circumlocutionary adj. circumlocutionist n. circumlocutory adj. Etymology: ME f. F circumlocution or L… …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 18Circumlocution office — Circumlocution Cir cum*lo*cu tion, n. [L. circumlocutio, fr. circumloqui, locutus, to make use of circumlocution; circum + loqui to speak. See {Loquacious}.] The use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few; indirect or… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 19Circumlocution Office — noun In Dickens s Little Dorrit, a very dilatory government department • • • Main Entry: ↑circumlocution …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 20circumlocution — noun /ˌsɜː(ɹ).kəm.ləˈkjuː.ʃn̩,sɹ̩kəmlowˈkjuʃn̩/ a) A roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea. b) A roundabout expression. See also euphemism Syn: beat around the bush, periphrasis …

    Wiktionary