more
technical word. Constant _circumlocution_ produces an affected and heavy
style; occasionally, skilful _periphrasis_ conduces both to beauty and
to simplicity. Etymologically, _diffuseness_ is a scattering, both of
words and thought; _redundancy_ is an overflow. _Prolixity_ goes into
endless petty details, without selection or perspective. _Pleonasm_ is
the expression of an idea already plainly implied; _tautology_ is the
restatement in other words of an idea already stated, or a useless
repetition of a word or words. _Pleonasm_ may add emphasis; _tautology_
is always a fault. "I saw it with my eyes" is a _pleonasm_; "all the
members agreed unanimously" is _tautology_. _Verbiage_ is the use of
mere words without thought. _Verbosity_ and _wordiness_ denote an excess
of words in proportion to the thought. _Tediousness_ is the sure result
of any of these faults of style.

Antonyms:

brevity, compression, condensation, plainness, succinctness,
compactness, conciseness, directness, shortness, terseness.

* * * * *

CIRCUMSTANCE.

Synonyms:

accompaniment, fact, item, point,
concomitant, feature, occurrence, position,
detail, incident, particular, situation.
event,

A _circumstance_ (L. _circum_, around, and _sto_, stand), is something
existing or occurring in connection with or relation to some other fact
or event, modifying or throwing light upon the principal matter without
affecting its essential character; an _accompaniment_ is something that
unites with the principal matter, tho not necessary to it; as, the piano
_accompaniment_ to a song; a _concomitant_ goes with a thing in natural
connection, but in a subordinate capacity, or perhaps in contrast; as,
cheerfulness is a _concomitant_ of virtue. A _circumstance_ is not
strictly, nor usually, an occasion, condition, effect, or result. (See
these words under CAUSE.) Nor is the _circumstance_ properly an
_incident_. (See under ACCIDENT.) We say, "My decision will depend upon
_circumstances_"--not "upon _incidents_." That a man wore a blue necktie
would not probably be the cause, occasion, condition, or _concomitant_
of his committing murder; but it might be a very important
_circumstance_ in identifying him as the murderer. All the
_circumstances_ make up the _situation_. A certain disease is the cause
of a man's death; his suffering is an _incident_; that he is in his own
h