Difference between revisions of "Circumlocution"
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(added "or" - important to note that not every circumlocution involves wordy avoidance, sometimes only an ambiguous statement that is only a few words, without a directly simple "yes" or "no") |
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| − | '''Circumlocution''' [[denote]]s "roundabout speech". Most often the term refers to a way of expressing something in a very wordy way, of saying something indirectly instead of saying it in a more direct and simple manner. The word is sometimes used as a [[synonym]] for [[euphemism]]. Circumlocution is employed to avoid a direct expression, either out of respect for the dignity of someone or something, or from a [[Motivation|motive]] of [[Obfuscate|obfuscation]] or misdirection, in either case, whether good or bad, to escape unpleasant consequences for oneself or others one wishes to protect. | + | '''Circumlocution''' [[denote]]s "roundabout speech". Most often the term refers to a way of expressing something in a very wordy way, or of saying something indirectly instead of saying it in a more direct and simple manner. The word is sometimes used as a [[synonym]] for [[euphemism]]. Circumlocution is employed to avoid a direct expression, either out of respect for the dignity of someone or something, or from a [[Motivation|motive]] of [[Obfuscate|obfuscation]] or misdirection, in either case, whether good or bad, to escape unpleasant consequences for oneself or others one wishes to protect. |
[[category:linguistics]] | [[category:linguistics]] | ||
[[category:dictionary]] | [[category:dictionary]] | ||
Revision as of 18:12, October 31, 2019
Circumlocution denotes "roundabout speech". Most often the term refers to a way of expressing something in a very wordy way, or of saying something indirectly instead of saying it in a more direct and simple manner. The word is sometimes used as a synonym for euphemism. Circumlocution is employed to avoid a direct expression, either out of respect for the dignity of someone or something, or from a motive of obfuscation or misdirection, in either case, whether good or bad, to escape unpleasant consequences for oneself or others one wishes to protect.