pe·riph·ra·sis / pəˈrifrəsis/ • n. (pl. -ses / -ˌsēz/ ) the use of indirect and circumlocutory speech or writing. ∎  an indirect and circumlocutory phrase. ∎  Gram. the use of separate words to express a grammatical relationship that is otherwise expressed by inflection, e.g., did go as opposed to went and more intelligent as opposed to smarter.

PERIPHRASIS [From Greek períphrasis talking around. Stress: ‘pe-RI-fra-sis’]. In RHETORIC, the use of more rather than fewer words, especially to talk about something in an indirect and circuitious way. The adjective periphrastic is used both directly in relation to this sense of periphrasis and to refer to the use of more/most for the comparative and superlative DEGREES of adjectives and adverbs, which is less compact than the use of -er, -est. See CIRCUMLOCUTION, TAUTOLOGY.

periphrasis XVI. — L. — Gr. períphrasis, f. periphrázein, f. PERI- + phrázein declare; see PHRASE.
So periphrastic XIX. — Gr. periphrastikós.