Roundabout or indirect speech; a long-winded way of saying something that could be said simply.
From Latin 'ambages,' derived from 'ambigere' meaning 'to go around' (from 'ambi-' meaning around and 'agere' meaning to go). The word literally meant 'going around' and evolved to mean circumlocution or beating around the bush.
When you use 'ambages,' you're literally speaking in circles—ancient Romans used this word to describe the complicated, roundabout language of prophecies and mysterious utterances, which makes sense because going 'around and around' is exactly what happens when you can't just get to the point.
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