January 17, 2007

circumbendibus

circumbendibus: A roundabout way; a circumlocution. [Jocose.] n.
The Century Dictionary (1898-1891)

Bloggin John Comments
• Virginia is inclined toward turning off the main trail to explore every circumbendibus she sees curling off into the disance--no matter how tortuous or embowered.--B'n' J'

• The word circumloction (in the definition above) needs some explanation. In brief, circumlocution identifies a piece of writing as being either wordy or evasive. Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged explains circumlocution this way:
1 a : the use of an unnecessarily large number of words to express an idea : indirect or roundabout expression

b : evasion in speech

2 : an instance of circumlocution.

• Marking circumbendibus as “Jocose” indicates that the word is a jestful, comical substitute for circumlocution. "The third paragraph is a long circumbendibus on weather offering nothing to support your argument. Delete it."

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