paraphrase
UK: ˈpærəfreɪz | US: ˈpærəfreɪz
n. A restatement of a text or passage in other words, often to clarify meaning.
vt. To express the meaning of something using different words, especially for clarity or brevity.
para<beside> + phrase<expression>
- para: From Greek para- ("beside, alongside"), indicating proximity or parallelism.
- phrase: From Greek phrasis ("speech, expression"), via Latin phrasis and Old French frase.
Etymology Origin:
The word "paraphrase" combines para- (suggesting alignment or comparison) with phrase (a unit of language). It originated in the 16th century to describe the act of rewording text "alongside" the original—retaining meaning while altering expression. This reflects the Renaissance focus on rhetorical precision and translation.
The teacher asked the students to paraphrase the poem in their own words.
His essay included a clever paraphrase of the famous quote.
Legal documents often require paraphrasing for clarity.
She struggled to paraphrase the complex scientific theory.
The translator provided a paraphrase rather than a literal translation.