Periphrasis is unnecessarily elaborate speech, or speech that uses more words than necessary. For example, someone saying "It is evident that your statements are deceptive and untrue" rather than "You're lying" would be engaging in periphrasis.
Periphrasis is unnecessarily elaborate speech, or speech that uses more words than necessary. For example, someone saying "It is evident that your statements are deceptive and untrue" rather than "You're lying" would be engaging in periphrasis.