circumlocution

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: cir=cum=lo=cu=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

circumlocution, n. [L. circumlocutio, fr. circumloqui, -locutus, to make use of circumlocution; circum + loqui to speak. See Loquacious.].

 The use of many words to express an idea that might be expressed by few; indirect or roundabout language; a periphrase.  [1913 Webster]
"the plain Billingsgate way of calling names . . . would save abundance of time lost by circumlocution."  [1913 Webster]

Circumlocution office, a term of ridicule for a governmental office where business is delayed by passing through the hands of different officials.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

circumlocution, n.
1 a a roundabout expression. b evasive talk.
2 the use of many words where fewer would do; verbosity.

Derivative

circumlocutional adj. circumlocutionary adj. circumlocutionist n. circumlocutory adj.

Etymology

ME f. F circumlocution or L circumlocutio (as CIRCUM-, LOCUTION), transl. of Gk PERIPHRASIS

THESAURUS

circumlocution

ambages, anfractuosity, circling, circuition, circuitousness, circuitry, circularity, circulation, circumambages, circumambience, circumambiency, circumambulation, circumbendibus, circumflexion, circummigration, circumnavigation, circumvolution, convolution, crinkle, crinkling, deviance, deviancy, deviation, deviousness, digression, excursion, excursus, flexuosity, flexuousness, gyre, gyring, indirection, intorsion, involution, meander, meandering, obliqueness, orbit, orbiting, periphrase, periphrasis, pleonasm, redundancy, rivulation, roundabout, roundaboutness, rounding, sinuation, sinuosity, sinuousness, slinkiness, snakiness, spiral, spiraling, tautology, torsion, tortility, tortuosity, tortuousness, turn, turning, twisting, undulation, verbality, wave, waving, wheeling, winding

ROGET THESAURUS

circumlocution

Diffuseness

N diffuseness, amplification, dilating, verbosity, verbiage, cloud of words, copia verborum, flow of words, looseness, Polylogy, tautology, battology, perissology, pleonasm, exuberance, redundancy, thrice-told tale, prolixity, circumlocution, ambages, periphrase, periphrasis, roundabout phrases, episode, expletive, pennya-lining, richness, diffuse, profuse, wordy, verbose, largiloquent, copious, exuberant, pleonastic, lengthy, longsome, long-winded, longspun, long drawn out, spun out, protracted, prolix, prosing, maundering, circumlocutory, periphrastic, ambagious, roundabout, digressive, discursive, excursive, loose, rambling episodic, flatulent, frothy, diffusely, at large, in extenso, about it and about it.