Plural of circumlocution; roundabout, indirect ways of expressing something that could be said more simply or directly.
From Latin circumlocutio, combining circum- (around) and locutio (speaking). The term literally means 'speaking around' rather than directly.
In Shakespeare's day, circumlocutions were considered a sign of wit and eloquence, but today's readers often find them exhausting—which shows how language preferences change dramatically across centuries.
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