periodus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [pɛˈri.ɔ.dʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [peˈriː.o.dus]^[1]

Forms

periodus f (genitive periodī); second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is a learned borrowed from Ancient Greek περίοδος (períodos, “going round, cycle”), from περί (perí, “around”) and ὁδός (hodós, “way”).^[1][2][3] It is also written ⟨perihodus⟩, as in Festus.^[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and Cicero still writes the word in Greek, rendering it ambitus, circuitus and comprehēnsiō.^[2][5][6]

Semantic evolution

It meant a complete sentence, a period, in rhetoric, as in Quintilian and Pliny the Younger.^[5][6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant a complete sentence, period, legend, story, stage.^[7] British Medieval Latin used it for circular movement and a circuit.^[8] Medieval Latin periodus “cycle” gave English period in the early 15th century, “a course of time”.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero discusses the Greek term.^[5][2]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of a period.^[6][2]
• early 15th century – English period is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. (rhetoric) A period, a complete sentence.^[5]
2. (Medieval Latin) A cycle; a circuit.^[8][3]

Related words

• English period
• English periodic

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press