paraphrase
UK[ˈpærəfreɪz]US[ˈpærəfreɪz]
v
To express the meaning of something written or spoken using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity.
n
A rewording of something written or spoken.
Morpheme Breakdown
para
phrase
para
beside
phrase
speech
Etymology
The word 'paraphrase' entered English in the mid-16th century from Latin 'paraphrasis,' which itself originated from Greek 'paraphrazein.' The Greek components are 'para-' (beside) and 'phrazein' (to tell, to declare). Literally, it meant "to tell beside" or "to express in other words alongside the original." This concept evolved from the concrete idea of placing one's own explanatory wording next to a canonical or complex text (like a biblical or philosophical passage) into the modern abstract meaning of restating any text or speech for clarity, explanation, or simplification.
Analysis
Structure: para (beside) + phrase (speech)
- para: A prefix of Greek origin meaning "beside," "alongside," or "altered."
- phrase: A word of Greek origin, via Latin and French, meaning "speech" or "way of speaking."
Examples
The teacher asked the student to paraphrase the complex paragraph in simpler terms.
His essay included a lengthy paraphrase of the key philosophical argument.
To avoid plagiarism, you must paraphrase the source material and cite it properly.