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 Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2008 9:45 am
circumlocution • ser-kum-loh-KYOO-shun • noun
*1 : the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea
2 : evasion in speech
Example Sentence:
Mr. Harvey was notorious for his tendency to engage in endless circumlocution when a simple, brief explanation would suffice.
Did you know?
In The King's English, grammarian H.W. Fowler advised, "Prefer the single word to the circumlocution." Alas, that good advice was not followed by the framers of "circumlocution." They actually used two terms in forming that word for unnecessarily verbose prose or speech. But their choices were apt; "circumlocution" derives from the Latin "circum-," meaning "around," and "locutio," meaning "speech" -- so it literally means "roundabout speech." Since the 15th century, English writers have used "circumlocution" with disdain, naming a thing to stop, or better yet, to avoid altogether. Charles Dickens even used it to satirize political runarounds when he created the fictional Circumlocution Office, a government department that delayed the dissemination of information and just about everything else.
*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.
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Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:46 am
clever Dickens!
modern tech has made his office unnexessary however,
now the utilities and other obfuscators keep you at arms length with robot receptionists, menu choices of things you don't need to discuss, and useless FAQ.
that way they never have to answer any real questions.
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