A periphrastic modifier is a roundabout or indirect descriptive phrase used in place of a simple adjective or noun—such as “the bard of Avon” for Shakespeare—to add stylistic flourish, allusiveness, or rhetorical weight, common in epic and Augustan poetry for elevated diction.

A periphrastic modifier substitutes a longer descriptive phrase for a simpler word, as in “the silver lamp of night” for “the moon.” It can elevate diction, create ceremony, delay naming, or adjust meter and rhythm. It resembles circumlocution and kenning, but may be less fixed or figurative. Practical hint: use it when the detour adds perspective or music; if readers must decode it without gaining tone, image, or emphasis, prefer the direct term.