periphrasis

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pe·riph·ra·sis / pəˈrifrəsis/ • n. (pl. -ses / -ˌsēz/ ) the use of indirect and circumlocutory speech or writing. ∎  an indirect and circumlocutory phrase. ∎  Gram. the use of separate words to express a grammatical relationship that is otherwise expressed by inflection, e.g., did go as opposed to went and more intelligent as opposed to smarter.

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