---
title: circumlocution — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «circumlocution» in the school dictionary: Circumlocution is using many words to say something that could be said simply, often to avoid saying it directly. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# circumlocution

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Circumlocution, gentle circumlocution, answer, minister, you, Experiencing · **What happens:** use, say, avoid, be, pass away, die · **To what, where:** many words, something, Circumlocution, one such roundabout phrase, gentle circumlocution, pure circumlocution · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«circumlocution» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [circumlocution in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/circumlocution.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Circumlocution is using many words to say something that could be said simply, often to avoid saying it directly.

<!-- fold The tree, 19 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumlocution:m1:1
# text = Circumlocution is using many words to say something that could be said simply, often to avoid saying it directly.
1	Circumlocution	circumlocution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj:pass	_	_
10	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	12	aux	_	_
11	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	aux:pass	_	_
12	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl:relcl	_	_
13	simply	simply	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
16	to	to	PART	TO	_	17	mark	_	_
17	avoid	avoid	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	12	conj	_	_
18	saying	say	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	17	xcomp	_	_
19	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	18	obj	_	_
20	directly	directly	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present · progressive | Circumlocution | many words |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent word=Patient |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive | Circumlocution *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent something=Topic |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | could · passive |  |  |  |  |  | simply *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic |
| 4 | **avoid** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | often *property* | vn avoid-52 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 5 | **say** *speech: assert* | gerund |  | Circumlocution |  |  |  | directly *property* | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A circumlocution is one such roundabout phrase.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumlocution:m2:1
# text = A circumlocution is one such roundabout phrase.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	circumlocution	circumlocution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
5	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	roundabout	roundabout	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a circumlocution | one such roundabout phrase |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Passed away» is a gentle circumlocution for «died».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumlocution:x1:1
# text = «Passed away» is a gentle circumlocution for «died».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Passed	pass	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	csubj	_	_
3	away	away	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	gentle	gentle	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	circumlocution	circumlocution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	for	for	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	11	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	died	die	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass away** *in a quote* | participle |  |  |  |  |  | away *property* | vn die-42.4-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a gentle circumlocution |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **die** *in a quote* | past | a gentle circumlocution *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The minister's answer was pure circumlocution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumlocution:x2:1
# text = The minister's answer was pure circumlocution.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	minister	minister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	pure	pure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	circumlocution	circumlocution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the minister's answer | pure circumlocution |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **answer** |  | the minister |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Cut the circumlocution and tell me what happened.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumlocution:x3:1
# text = Cut the circumlocution and tell me what happened.
1	Cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	circumlocution	circumlocution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
5	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	1	conj	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	8	nsubj	_	_
8	happened	happen	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | imperative | you *not said here* | the circumlocution |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset circumlocution=Product |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | infinitive | you *not said here* |  | me |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP what S»: agent=Agent i=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 3 | **happen** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Experiencing a cash-flow problem» is a circumlocution for «having no money».

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumlocution:x4:1
# text = «Experiencing a cash-flow problem» is a circumlocution for «having no money».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Experiencing	experience	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
4	cash	cash	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	flow	flow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	problem	problem	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	circumlocution	circumlocution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
12	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	having	have	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	11	acl	_	_
15	no	no	DET	DT	PronType=Neg	16	det	_	_
16	money	money	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **experience** *in a quote* | gerund |  | a flow problem |  |  |  |  | vn sight-30.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer problem=Stimulus |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Experiencing | a circumlocution |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **have** *in a quote* | gerund | a circumlocution *not said here* | no money |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent money=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Good writers avoid circumlocution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumlocution:x5:1
# text = Good writers avoid circumlocution.
1	Good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	writers	writer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	avoid	avoid	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	circumlocution	circumlocution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **avoid** | present | Good writers | circumlocution |  |  |  |  | vn avoid-52 «NP V NP.location»: agent=Agent circumlocution=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His speech was full of circumlocution.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:circumlocution:x6:1
# text = His speech was full of circumlocution.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	circumlocution	circumlocution	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | His speech |  |  |  |  | of circumlocution; full *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **speak** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom speech «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

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