circumlocution Copy link Outline 1. circumlŏcūtĭo2. pĕriphrăsis, is, f.3. ambĭtus, ūs4. circuĭtus, ūs (like ambitus, with some defining word)5. ambāges, is, f., (in sing. only abl.; pl. complete • circumlocution: 1. circumlŏcūtĭo: Quint.: Gell. 2. pĕriphrăsis, is, f.: Quint. 3. ambĭtus, ūs: (with some defining word): to express a thing by c., per am. verborum rem nuntiare, Suet.: Liv. 4. circuĭtus, ūs (like ambitus, with some defining word): to express anything by c., per circuitus loqui aliquid, Mart.: c.s, circuitus verborum, Cic. 5. ambāges, is, f., (in sing. only abl.; pl. complete: esp. used of the dark, ambiguous phrase employed by oracles: v. ambiguity): Virg.: Liv. Phr.: very many things are without names, so that they must be expressed either by figures or by c., res plurimae carent appellationibus, ut eas necesse sit transferre aut circumire, Quint.
CIRCUMLOCUTION Copy link • CIRCUMLOCUTIONperiphrasis, circuitio, circuitus eloquendi, circuitus plurium verborum, circumlocutio (all as grammatical technical terms for περιφρασις, Cic., Quint.). ☞ Aroid circumscriptio, amfractus verborum (which in this sense has not the sanction of any old writer), and periphrasis, which is a Grecism. A poetical circumlocution, circumlocutio poetica (Gell.). If our language does not possess the word, we must employ a circumlocution, si non reperitur vox nostras, vel pluribus et per ambitum verborum res enuncianda est (after Suet., Tib., 71, extr). To describe anything by circumlocution, pluribus verbis aliquid exponere or explicare (Cic., Quint.): pluribus et per ambitum verborum aliquid enunciare (Suet., Tib., 71): circuitu plurium verborum ostendere aliquid (Quint.): also simply circumire aliquid (Quint., 8, 2, 17; 12, 10, 32). ☞ Circumscribere with or without verbis is more “to describe, define,” etc.: circumscriptio is rather “a period.” To use a long circumlocution, aliquid copiosa loquacitate circumire. Beating about the bush, ambages.