peri·phras·tic \|perə|frastik, -raas-, -tēk\adjective Etymology: Greek periphrastikos, from (assumed) Greek periphrastos (verbal of Greek periphrazein) + Greek -ikos -ic 1.: of, relating to, or characterized by periphrasis : circumlocutory 2.: formed by the use of function words or auxiliaries instead of by inflection < more fair is a periphrastic comparative > < of man is a periphrastic phrase > < does go is a periphrastic verb > • peri·phras·ti·cal·ly\-tə̇k(ə)lē, -tēk, -li\adverb