phraseology

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek φράσις (phrásis, “speech”) + λόγος (lógos, “explanation”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /fɹeɪziˈɑləd͡ʒi/, /fɹeɪzˈɑləd͡ʒi/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /fɹeɪziˈɒləd͡ʒɪ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒləd͡ʒi

Noun

phraseology (usually uncountable, plural phraseologies)

1. Study of set or fixed expressions.
2. The style in which words and phrases are used in writing or speech.
   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter III, in Francesca Carrara. , volume II, London: Richard Bentley, , (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 28:

     I was riding through the forest, when suddenly (pray correct my phraseology if too worldly—you know I am not well read in these epics of the heart) I saw a knight and his lady traversing one of the glades; the golden sunshine fell athwart the green leaves, and showed their white steeds and whiter plumes, while the air around grew musical with their gentle words and laughter.

3. A group of specialized words and expressions used by a particular group.
   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “An Interview”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. , volume II, London: Henry Colburn, , →OCLC, page 209:

     Fortunately, two servants she had brought with her, were devotedly attached to their mistress; and the others only entering her apartments at rare intervals, did not understand her mystic allusions; and she now, more than ever, affected to veil her meaning under the mysterious phraseology so much adopted by the Jacobites.

4. A collection of phrases; a phrasebook.

Derived terms

• phraseological
• phraseologism

Translations

See also

• terminology

Further reading

• phraseology on Wikipedia.Wikipedia