peri

¹

[ peer-ee ]

noun

, Persian Mythology.

, plural pe·ris.

1. one of a large group of beautiful, fairylike beings of Persian mythology, represented as descended from fallen angels and excluded from paradise until their penance is accomplished.
2. any lovely, graceful person.

Peri

²

[ pe-ree ]

noun

1. Ja·co·po [yah, -kaw-paw], 1561–1633, Italian composer.

peri-

³

1. a prefix meaning “about” or “around” ( perimeter, periscope ), “enclosing” or “surrounding” ( pericardium ), and “near” ( perigee, perihelion ), appearing in loanwords from Greek ( peripeteia ); on this model, used in the formation of compound words ( perimorph ).

peri

¹

/ ˈpɪərɪ /

noun

1. (in Persian folklore) one of a race of beautiful supernatural beings
2. any beautiful fairy-like creature

peri-

²

prefix

1. enclosing, encircling, or around

   perigon

   pericarp

   pericardium

2. near or adjacent

   perihelion

peri–

1. A prefix that means: “around” (as in pericardium, ) or “near” (as in perihelion ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of peri¹

1770–80; < Persian perī, variant of parī fairy, Middle Persian parīk, Avestan pairikā witch

Origin of peri²

< Greek, prefixal use of perí (adv. and preposition)

Word History and Origins

Origin of peri¹

C18: from Persian: fairy, from Avestan pairikā witch

Origin of peri²

from Greek peri around, near, about

Example Sentences

According to a recent study, about 27 million members of the American workforce are peri- or fully menopausal.

From Los Angeles Times

It should come as little surprise, then, that numerous British publications have their own “homemade” recipes for peri peri chicken, though they are little consolation for those craving Nando’s.

From New York Times

The restaurant group has had to shut around 50 outlets temporarily after apparently running short of its staple fare: peri peri chicken.

From BBC

A knock at his dressing room door announced the arrival of his dinner: chicken breasts and fries from Nandos, a popular restaurant chain specializing in peri peri chicken.

From New York Times

I work in a job that I don’t particularly like, and I wonder how I went from being 33 and relatively happily married, to 46 and peri‑menopausal.

From The Guardian