circumlocution n.

word-forming element meaning "around, round about, all around, on all sides," from Latin adverb and preposition circum "around, round about," literally "in a circle," probably accusative form of circus "ring" (see circus). The Latin word was commonly used in word-formation. In French, the element became circon-; Kitchin points out that con for cum is common even in classical Latin. For sense development, compare German rings "around."

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to speak."

It forms all or part of: circumlocution; colloquium; colloquy; elocution; eloquence; grandiloquence; interlocution; interlocutor; locution; locutory; loquacious; loquacity; loquitur; magniloquence; magniloquent; obloquy; soliloquy; somniloquy; vaniloquence; ventriloquism; ventriloquy.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Latin loqui "to speak;" Old Irish ad-tluch- "to thank," to-tluch- "to ask;" Old Church Slavonic tloko "interpretation, explanation."

"roundabout way of speaking; an instance of this," 1530s, from Latin periphrasis "circumlocution," from Greek periphrasis, from periphrazein "speak in a roundabout way," from peri "around, about" (see peri-) + phrazein "to express" (see phrase (n.)).

Periphrasis is also known as circumlocution; but the term periphrasis generally refers to those cases where the figure is used with effect, while "circumlocution" refers to its faulty use. Periphrasis may be defined as naming a thing indirectly by means of some well-known attribute, or characteristic, or attendant circumstance. [James De Mille, "The Elements of Rhetoric," 1878]