Periphrasis

The periphrasis is a figure of Rhétorique.

The periphrasis replaces a word has by an expression b:

  • the expression B is made up of several words which underline one of the characteristics of has (in particular by expressing a favorable or unfavourable judgment).
  • has is not clarified (it disappeared: it is replaced by B)
  • Complete absence of any function word announcing the operation.

The difficulty originates in mainly the characteristic of expressed by b: even if one knows what has, one does not know inevitably that it with the characteristic B. (the Métonymie, it, is almost always easy to include/understand because, if one knows has, one very frequently knows his characteristic B)

Consequently, the periphrasis requires a good knowledge of the subject to be included/understood.

The Homeric epithet are forms of periphrases.

Hyponyme: one indicates under the name of Kenning the periphrases used in the Scandinavian sagas by the Skalde S.

Examples

  • the queen of the shades (put for the the Moon)
  • the roof of the world (put for the the Himalayas)
  • the roof of Europe (put for the Mont Blanc)
  • the dollar (put for the Dollar)
  • the king of the animals (put for the Lion)
  • the man of June 18th (put for Charles de Gaulle)
  • “Show him as it is necessary to become hardened with the sorrow In the trade of Mars to make without equal” (trade of Mars = the war, Corneille)
  • Itstar of the day (put for the sun)
  • the messenger of spring (put for the swallow)
  • the old continent (put for Europe)
  • the city phocéenne (put for Marseilles)
  • the small screen (put for the television station)
  • country of the rising sun (put for the Japan)
  • cinema (put for cinema)
  • small Venice (put for Bruges)
  • the language of Molière (put for French)
  • the language of Shakespeare (put for English)
  • Sovereign pontiff (put for the Pope)
  • the pink city (put for Toulouse)
  • the city of the doges (put for Venice)
  • the capital of Gaulles (put for Lyon)
  • the city inhabitant of Saint Malo (put for Saint-Malo)
  • the Iron Lady (put for Margaret Thatcher)
  • the mark with the rafters (put for Citroen)
  • the steamer of the airs (put for the A380)
  • the gendarme of the purse (put for the Authority of the Financial markets)
  • Fifteen tricolor (put for the team of France of Rugby)
  • Fifteen of the Rose (put for the team of England of Rugby)
  • the city of the lights (put for Lyon)
  • the prince of criticisms (put for Jumes Janin)

See too

  • List of periphrases indicating of the indicating country
  • List of periphrases of the languages
  • List of periphrases indicating of the cities

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