Also 6 -locucion, -loqution, -loquution. [a. F. circonlocution, or ad. L. circumlocūtiōn-em, f. CIRCUM- + loqui to speak.] Speaking in a roundabout or indirect way; the use of several words instead of one, or many instead of few. Formerly used of grammatical periphrasis; but now only of rhetorical.
Circumlocution Office: a satirical name applied, by Dickens, to Government Offices, on account of the circuitous formality by which they delay the giving of information, etc.
c. 1510. Barclay, Mirr. Good Mann. (1570), F vj. When thou must in speche touche … Such maners vnclenly, vse circumlocution.
1530. Palsgr., 112. Where we use circumlocution, the frenchemen have one onely worde.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 93 b. Circumlocution is a large description either to sette forth a thyng more gorgeouslie, or else to hyde it.
1595. A. Day, Eng. Secretary, II. (1625), 64. When by circumloquution anything is expressed, as when we say: The Prince of Peripateticks, for Aristotle.
1626. Cockeram, Circumlocution, A speaking of many words when few may suffice: a long circumstance.
1713. Addison, Ct. Tariff. He affirms everything roundly without any art or circumlocution.
1823. Scott, Peveril, xii. After much circumlocution, and many efforts to give an air of importance to what he had to communicate.
1855. Dickens, L. Dorrit, I. x. The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government. Ibid. Whatever was required to be done, the Circumlocution Office was beforehand with all the public departments in the art of perceiving—How not to do it.
b. A phrase or sentence in which circumlocution is used; a roundabout expression.
1533. Tindale, Supper of Lord, 42. Going about the bush with this exposition and circumlocution.
1662. Fuller, Worthies (1840), II. 452. In his pleadings … he declined all circumlocutions.
1791. Mackintosh, Vind. Gall., Wks. 1846, III. 83. The courtly circumlocution by which Mr. Burke designates the Bastille—‘the King’s castle at Paris!’
1854. Kingsley, Lett. (1878), I. 417. Courtesies and Circumlocutions are out of place, where the morals, health, lives of thousands are at stake.
Hence Circumlocutional, Circumlocutionary, adjs., pertaining to, or given to, circumlocution. Circumlocutionist, one who uses circumlocution. Circumlocutious a., given to circumlocution; whence Circumlocutiousness.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., II. 308. I have found circumlocutional champions disposed to be warm with me.
1863. Scotsman, 16 April. An immense exercise of circumlocutionary skill.
1877. D. M. Wallace, Russia, xxx. 500. The flowery circumlocutionary style of an Oriental scribe.
1846. Worcester, Circumlocutionist, citing Gent. Mag.
1855. Dickens, L. Dorrit, I. xxxiv. This able circumlocutionist.
1827. R. Hill, in Sidney, Life (1834), 213. O the dulness, the circumlocutiousness, the conceit, the tautology.
