périphrases

Périphrase, also known as periphrase or periphrasis in English, is a rhetorical device in which an entity is referred to not by its proper name or a direct label, but by a descriptive phrase that conveys its qualities, attributes, or associations. This circumlocutory naming can serve to elevate tone, emphasize particular features, or avoid naming directly.

Etymology and scope: the term comes from the French périphrase, rooted in Greek roots meaning “around speech.” In practice, a périphrase can be a long-winded description or a concise epithet that stands for the subject, such as referring to Paris as “the City of Light” or to George Washington as “the Father of His Country.” It may also narrativa a person or thing through attributes, effects, or class membership.

Forms and functions: périphrases are often used to add rhetorical color, to honor or satirize, or to soften direct references (a euphemistic periphrase). They can function as circumlocution—speaking around the name when it is unknown, unpronounceable, or politically sensitive—while also shaping readers’ or listeners’ perception by foregrounding certain aspects.

Relation to related concepts: a périphrase differs from paraphrase, which restates meaning in different words, and from metonymy, which substitutes a related term (such as “the crown” for the monarchy). In linguistic practice, periphrasis may also describe grammatical constructions that express meaning with additional words rather than with a single inflected form, such as using “to be going to” instead of a simple future.

Applications: commonly found in poetry, prose, journalism, and public discourse, périphrases help craft tone, provide context, or introduce a subject before presenting its direct label. They enrich style while remaining a recognizable device of indirect reference.