📌 Periphrasis
Definition:
Periphrasis is the use of excessive or longer wording to express something that could be said more simply. It’s often used for emphasis, politeness, formality, or sometimes for humorous or poetic effect.
✅ Example:
Instead of saying:
“He died.”
A periphrastic version might be:
“He passed away into eternal rest.”
Another example:
“The mother of my father”
instead of simply saying “grandmother.”
Periphrasis can be intentional (for stylistic or rhetorical effect) or unintentional (resulting in wordiness). It’s also common in bureaucratic or overly formal language.
So there you have it! Now go forth and use periphrasis in your CXC prep/ CSEC prep!
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