Where does “period” come from?

Period comes from Middle English periode, from Middle French periode, from Latin periodus, from Ancient Greek περίοδος, a compound of περί and ὁδός meaning a going around or circuit.

period (English): A length of time; A period of time in history...

Definitions

  1. A length of time; A period of time in history...

Ancestry of “period”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishperiode—
2Middle Frenchperiode—
3Latinperiodusa complete sentence; period; the circuit of the...
4Ancient Greekπερίοδοςgoing round in a circle, flank march;...
5Ancient Greekὁδόςthreshold; road, path, way; journey, trip,...
6Proto-Hellenic*hodós—

Words derived from “period”

Every word from Proto-Hellenic *hodós →Every word from Ancient Greek ὁδός →Every word from Ancient Greek περίοδος →