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Period   /pˈɪriəd/   Listen
noun
Period  n.  
1.
A portion of time as limited and determined by some recurring or cyclic phenomenon, as by the completion of a revolution of one of the heavenly bodies; a division of time, as a series of years, months, or days, in which something is completed, and ready to recommence and go on in the same order; as, the period of the sun, or the earth, or a comet; the period of an electromagnetic wave is the time interval between maxima.
2.
Hence: A stated and recurring interval of time; more generally, an interval of time specified or left indefinite; a certain series of years, months, days, or the like; a time; a cycle; an age; an epoch; as, the period of the Roman republic. "How by art to make plants more lasting than their ordinary period."
3.
(Geol.) One of the great divisions of geological time; as, the Tertiary period; the Glacial period. See the Chart of Geology.
4.
The termination or completion of a revolution, cycle, series of events, single event, or act; hence, a limit; a bound; an end; a conclusion. "So spake the archangel Michael; then paused, As at the world's great period." "Evils which shall never end till eternity hath a period." "This is the period of my ambition."
5.
(Rhet.) A complete sentence, from one full stop to another; esp., a well-proportioned, harmonious sentence. "Devolved his rounded periods." "Periods are beautiful when they are not too long." Note: The period, according to Heyse, is a compound sentence consisting of a protasis and apodosis; according to Becker, it is the appropriate form for the coordinate propositions related by antithesis or causality.
6.
(Print.) The punctuation point (.) that marks the end of a complete sentence, or of an abbreviated word.
7.
(Math.) One of several similar sets of figures or terms usually marked by points or commas placed at regular intervals, as in numeration, in the extraction of roots, and in circulating decimals.
8.
(Med.) The time of the exacerbation and remission of a disease, or of the paroxysm and intermission.
9.
(Mus.) A complete musical sentence.
10.
(Sports) One of the specified time intervals into which a game is divided; as, there are three periods in a hockey game.
11.
(Education) One of the specified time intervals into which the academic day is divided; as, my calculus class is in the first period.
12.
The time interval during which a woman is menstruating, or the event of a single menstruation; as, her period was late this month.
The period, the present or current time, as distinguished from all other times.
Synonyms: Time; date; epoch; era; age; duration; limit; bound; end; conclusion; determination.


verb
Period  v. t.  To put an end to. (Obs.)


Period  v. i.  To come to a period; to conclude. (Obs.) "You may period upon this, that," etc.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Period" Quotes from Famous Books



... and obscure, as the event of the living drama whose arrival it foretells. Prophecies of wars, and rumours of wars, etc., may safely be made by poet or prophet in any age, but to anticipate however darkly a period of regeneration and happiness is a more hazardous exercise of the faculty which bards possess or feign. It will remind the reader 'magno NEC proximus intervallo' of Isaiah and Virgil, whose ardent spirits overleaping the actual reign of evil ...
— The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley Volume I • Percy Bysshe Shelley
... instances, by giving details, in time-order, as determined by position in space, by comparison, by cause and effect, by repetition, by a combination of methods. Paraphrasing. Participles. Partition. Parts of speech. Period: rules for. Person. Personification. Persuasion: differs from argument, importance and necessity of, motive in, material of, appeal to feelings, with argument. Phelps, Elizabeth Stuart. Philips, David Graham. Phillips, Wendell. Phrases. Plot: interrelation with character. Poe. Poetry: ...
— Composition-Rhetoric • Stratton D. Brooks
... offering rude caresses to pretty women. Several dynasties of these tyrants had, since the Restoration, domineered over the streets. The Muns and Tityre Tus had given place to the Hectors, and the Hectors had been recently succeeded by the Scourers. At a later period arose the Nicker, the Hawcubite, and the yet more dreaded name of Mohawk. [123] The machinery for keeping the peace was utterly contemptible. There was an Act of Common Council which provided that more ...
— The History of England from the Accession of James II. - Volume 1 (of 5) • Thomas Babington Macaulay
... is a matter which can be traced back to the dark ages, but the fifteenth century may be considered as the period when the art of making instruments of the viol class took root in Italy. It cannot be said, however, that the violin, with the modelled back which gives its distinctive tone, made its appearance ...
— Famous Violinists of To-day and Yesterday • Henry C. Lahee
... that will make no difference. This germ, that is now in his body, has the power of arresting all further decay. Your father will remain as he is now for an indefinite period." ...
— The Blue Germ • Martin Swayne


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