perifrastisia

Perifrastisia is a rhetorical device in which a thing is described indirectly through roundabout wording rather than by direct naming. The term is derived from Greek elements meaning around and speech or phrasing, and it is closely related to the concepts of periphrasis and circumlocution. In practice, a speaker or writer uses descriptive phrases to refer to a person, place, thing, or idea instead of a straightforward label.

In classical rhetoric, perifrastisia functions as a stylistic choice to evoke imagery, soften direct reference, or invite interpretation. It can be employed for politeness, subtle humor, or emphasis, and is common in literary prose as well as public oratory. The technique often relies on identifying features, associations, or famous epithet-like expressions rather than simply naming the target.

Perifrastisia is related to, but distinct from, general paraphrase. While circumlocution aims to convey meaning through longer wording, perifrastisia tends to deploy a well-known descriptive label or a vivid description that stands in for the term itself. In broader linguistic terms, the closely related concept of periphrasis describes multi-word constructions used to express grammatical categories or meanings that might be conveyed by a single word in other languages.

Common examples include epithet-style phrases such as “the City of Light” for Paris, “the Big Apple” for New York City, or “the Eternal City” for Rome. These expressions convey associations and imagery that allow the reader to recognize the referent without a plain name.

See also: periphrasis, circumlocution, paraphrase.