circumlocution

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromπερίφρασις“periphrasis”
2. Latin · derived fromcircumlocūtiō“the act of speaking around; circumlocution, periphrasis”
3. English todaycircumlocution

From Latin circumlocūtiō (“the act of speaking around; circumlocution, periphrasis”). By surface analysis, circum- (“around”) + locution (“talk”), thus "getting around (a problem) in speaking or writing". Probably a calque of Ancient Greek περίφρασις (períphrasis, “periphrasis”).

Words from the same roots