The meaning of Periphrastic

adjective

Of language, writing, or thought: characterized by (verbose) indirectness; circumlocutory, roundabout; (formerly also) †deceptive (obsolete). also of a person: that uses such language.

adjective

Of a path, way, or course: winding, circuitous. chiefly figurative and in figurative contexts.

adjective

(of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way.

Usage examples:

The canal followed a circuitous route

adjective

Not straight or direct; roundabout

Usage examples:

We took a circuitous route home., the train tracks wound circuitously through the canyons.

adjective

Using many words where fewer would do, especially in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive; long-winded.

Usage examples:

He has a meandering, circumlocutory speaking style

adjective

Relating to something said in an indirect way

Usage examples:

He began in a circumlocutory way, but eventually had to be fairly blunt., it was a difficult interv…

verb

Spread over a wide area or between a large number of people.

Usage examples:

Technologies diffuse rapidly

adjective

Spread out over a large area; not concentrated.

Usage examples:

The diffuse community which centred on the church

verb

To spread or cause something to spread in many directions

Usage examples:

[ t ] television is a powerful means of diffusing knowledge., [ t ] the guide tried to diffuse the …

adjective

Digressing from subject to subject.

Usage examples:

Students often write dull, second-hand, discursive prose

adjective

Involving discussion

Usage examples:

A discursive essay, a discursive writer/speech

adjective

Not directly caused by or resulting from something.

Usage examples:

Full employment would have an indirect effect on wage levels

adjective

Happening in addition to an intended result

Usage examples:

Several other people were hurt as an indirect result of his carelessness., an indirect route, ranso…

adjective

Not done or communicated in a direct way

Usage examples:

We decided to take an indirect approach to tackling the problem of absenteeism., he made only an in…

idiom

Using or containing too many words

adjective

(of speech or writing) continuing at tedious length.

Usage examples:

A long-winded question

adjective

Capable of doing something for a long time without becoming breathless.

adjective

Using more words than are needed to express a meaning, either unintentionally or for emphasis

Usage examples:

The prose is often pleonastic in nature., some pleonastic phrases, such as "tuna fish" or "advance …

adjective

(of speech or writing) using or containing too many words; tediously lengthy.

Usage examples:

He found the narrative too prolix and discursive

adjective

Using too many words and therefore boring or difficult to read or listen to

Usage examples:

The author's prolix style has done nothing to encourage sales of the book.

adjective

(of writing or speech) lengthy and confused or inconsequential.

Usage examples:

A rambling six-hour speech

noun

The activity of walking in the countryside for pleasure.

Usage examples:

A rambling club

verb

Walk for pleasure in the countryside.

Usage examples:

I spent most of my spare time rambling and climbing

noun

A road junction at which traffic moves in one direction round a central island to reach one of the roads converging on it.

Usage examples:

Turn right at the next roundabout

adjective

Not following a short direct route; circuitous.

Usage examples:

We need to take a roundabout route to throw off any pursuit

adjective

Not simple, direct, or quick

Usage examples:

You took the roundabout way to get here.

adjective

Using two words or phrases that express the same meaning, in a way that is unnecessary and usually unintentional

Usage examples:

The phrase "advance planning" is tautological since when else are you going to plan something?, if …

adjective

Full of twists and turns.

Usage examples:

The route is remote and tortuous

adjective

Full of twists and turns; not straight or direct

Usage examples:

His so-called shortcut turned out to be tortuous and slow.

adjective

Using or expressed in more words than are needed.

Usage examples:

Much academic language is obscure and verbose

adjective

Using or containing more words than are necessary

Usage examples:

A verbose explanation/report/speech/style, he was a notoriously verbose after-dinner speaker.

adjective

Travelling aimlessly from place to place; itinerant.

Usage examples:

A wandering preacher

verb

Walk or move in a leisurely or aimless way.

Usage examples:

I wandered through the narrow streets

adjective

Using or expressed in rather too many words.

Usage examples:

A wordy and repetitive account

adjective

Containing too many words

Usage examples:

Your memo is too wordy – make it short and to the point.