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circumlocutory. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
circumlocutory, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
circumlocutory in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
circumlocutory you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
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Adjective
circumlocutory (comparative more circumlocutory, superlative most circumlocutory)
- Characterised by circumlocution; overly wordy
- Synonyms: periphrastic, verbose
- 1727, Jonathan Swift (attributed), Martinus Scriblerus, or the Art of Sinking In Poetry
- Periphrase is another great aid to prolixity; being a diffused circumlocutory manner of expressing a known idea, which should be so mysteriously couched, as to give the reader the pleasure of guessing what it is, that the author can possibly mean; and a strange surprise, when he finds it.
1864, J[oseph] Sheridan Le Fanu, chapter LII, in Wylder’s Hand. , New York, N.Y.: Carleton, , published 1865, →OCLC:Rachel's talks with the vicar were frequent; and poor little Mrs. William Wylder, who knew not the reason of his visits, fell slowly, and to the good man's entire bewilderment, into a chronic jealousy. It expressed itself enigmatically; it was circumlocutory, sad, and mysterious.
2000, Joanne Green, Neuropsychological Evaluation of the Older Adult:Another common type of error is a circumlocutory error, when the patient describes the item in several words (e.g., describing a beaver as "an animal that eats trees").
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