Periphrasis as a linguistic stylistic device: functional and structural-semantic features

Figurative periphrasis is based either on metaphor or on metonymy, the keyword of the collocation being the word used figuratively, as in ‘the punctual

• Figurative periphrasis is based either on metaphor or on metonymy, the keyword of the collocation being the word used figuratively, as in ‘the punctual
• servant of all work’ by Dickens means the sun; ‘in disgrace with fortune and men’s
• eyes’ by Shakespeare means ‘in misfortune’; ‘to tie the knot’ means ‘to marry’.
• There is little difference between metaphor or metonymy, on the one hand,
• and figurative periphrasis, on the other. It is the structural aspect of the periphrasis,
• which always presupposes a word-combination that is the reason for the division.
• For example:
• “I participated in that delayed Teutonic migration known as the Great War.”

At the same time periphrasis, like simile, has a certain cognitive function

• At the same time periphrasis, like simile, has a certain cognitive function
• inasmuch as it deepens our knowledge of the phenomenon described.
• Euphemism is a periphrasis, which is used to rename an unpleasant word or
• expression, for example: Death: the journey’s end; to die; to cross the bar; to join
• the majority, to hop off the twig Usually euphemisms are defined as words or phrases
• which produce some mild effect. Instead of saying “to lie” people usually use such
• expressions as: to tell stories, to possess a vivid imagination.