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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

cir·cum·lo·cu·tion

Audio Help [sur-kuh

m-loh-kyoo-shuh

n] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	a roundabout or indirect way of speaking; the use of more words than necessary to express an idea.

2.	a roundabout expression.

[Origin: 1375–1425; late ME < L circumlocūtiōn- (s. of circumlocūtiō). See circum-, locution

]

—Related forms

cir·cum·loc·u·to·ry

Audio Help [sur-kuh

m-lok-yuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] Pronunciation Key, cir·cum·lo·cu·tion·al, cir·cum·lo·cu·tion·ar·y, adjective

—Synonyms 1. rambling, meandering, verbosity, prolixity.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
circumlocution

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

cir·cum·lo·cu·tion Audio Help (sûr'kəm-lō-kyōō'shən) Pronunciation Key
n.

The use of unnecessarily wordy and indirect language.
Evasion in speech or writing.
A roundabout expression.

[Middle English circumlocucioun, from Latin circumlocūtiō, circumlocūtiōn-, from circumlocūtus, past participle of circumloquī : circum-, circum- + loquī, to speak; see tolk^w- in Indo-European roots.]

cir'cum·loc'u·to'ri·ly (-lŏk'yə-tôr'ə-lē, -tōr'-) adv., cir'cum·loc'u·to'ry (-tôr'ē, -tōr'ē) adj.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
circumlocution

c.1510, from L. circumlocutionem (a loan-translation of Gk. periphrasis) "speaking around" (the topic), from circum- "around" + locutionem (nom. locutio) "a speaking," from stem of loqui "to speak."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

circumlocution
noun
1.	a style that involves indirect ways of expressing things
2.	an indirect way of expressing something

American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition - Cite This Source - Share This
circumlocution [(sur-kuhm-loh-kyooh-shuhn)]

Roundabout speech or writing: “The driveway was not unlike that military training device known as an obstacle course” is a circumlocution for “The driveway resembled an obstacle course.” Circumlocution comes from Latin words meaning “speaking around.”

[Chapter:] Conventions of Written English

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Circumlocution

Cir`cum*lo*cu"tion\, 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.

the plain Billingsgate way of calling names . . . would save abundance of time lost by circumlocution. --Swift.

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

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circumlocution

circumlocution was Word of the Day on October 27, 1999.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day

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