periphrastic Hear it!

periphrastic definition

peri·phras·tic (per′i frastik)

adjective

  1. of, like, or expressed in periphrasis
  2. Gram. formed with a particle or an auxiliary verb instead of by inflection (Ex.: the phrase did sing used for the inflected form sang)

Etymology: ML periphrasticus < Gr periphrastikos

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.