- period
-
I. noun
Etymology: Middle English periode, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin, Latin, & Greek; Medieval Latin periodus period of time, punctuation mark, from Latin & Greek; Latin, rhetorical period, from Greek periodos circuit, period of time, rhetorical period, from peri- + hodos way
Date: circa 1530
1. the completion of a cycle, a series of events, or a single action ; conclusion
2.
a.
(1) an utterance from one full stop to another ; sentence
(2) a well-proportioned sentence of several clauses
(3) periodic sentence
b. a musical structure or melodic section usually composed of two or more contrasting or complementary phrases and ending with a cadence
3.
a. the full pause with which the utterance of a sentence closes
b. end, stop
4. obsolete goal, purpose
5.
a.
(1) a point . used to mark the end (as of a declarative sentence or an abbreviation)
(2) — used interjectionally to emphasize the finality of the preceding statement <I don't remember — period> b. a rhythmical unit in Greek verse composed of a series of two or more cola 6. a. a portion of time determined by some recurring phenomenon b. (1) the interval of time required for a cyclic motion or phenomenon to complete a cycle and begin to repeat itself (2) a number k that does not change the value of a periodic function f when added to the independent variable; especially the smallest such number c. a single cyclic occurrence of menstruation 7. a. a chronological division ; stage b. a division of geologic time longer than an epoch and included in an era c. a stage of culture having a definable place in time and space 8. a. one of the divisions of the academic day b. one of the divisions of the playing time of a game Synonyms: period, epoch, era, age mean a division of time. period may designate an extent of time of any length <periods of economic prosperity>. epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events <the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry>. era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things <the era of global communications>. age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature <the age of Samuel Johnson>. II. adjective Date: 1905 of, relating to, or representing a particular historical period <period furniture> <period costumes>
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
