period
period
Pronunciation
/ˈpɪəriəd/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
Pe- /pɪə/:
/p/: voiceless bilabial plosive
/ɪə/: near-close near-front unrounded vowel followed by a schwa, forming a diphthong
-ri- /ri/:
/r/: alveolar approximant
/i/: close front unrounded vowel
-od /əd/:
/ə/: schwa (mid-central unrounded vowel)
/d/: voiced alveolar plosive
Word Form Variations
As a Noun:
Singular: period (e.g., "The Roman period lasted for centuries." "I have a free period next." "She had her period.")
Plural: periods (e.g., "The course is divided into four periods." "She experiences painful periods.")
As an Adjective:
period (e.g., "They were dressed in period costumes." "This is a beautiful period piece of furniture.")
As an Adverb (informal, North American English):
period (e.g., "I'm not going, period." - used for emphasis to indicate finality). This usage doesn't have plural or comparative forms.
Other related forms (though not direct variations of the word "period" itself):
Periodic (adjective): Occurring at regular intervals, or relating to a period.
Periodically (adverb): At regular intervals.
Periodicity (noun): The quality or state of being periodic.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A defined segment or interval of time.
Definition: A specific length of time marked by a particular event, characteristic, or sequence of events.
Examples: "The Victorian period was a time of great change." "The school day is divided into six periods." "You'll have a study period before the exam."
Synonyms: era, epoch, age, phase, span, stretch, interval, duration, term
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, often implies a lack of end or beginning) perpetuity, eternity, continuum
The punctuation mark ( . ) used at the end of a declarative sentence or abbreviation.
Definition: A small, circular mark used in written language to indicate the end of a sentence, a full stop in an abbreviation, or as a decimal point in numbers.
Examples: "Please remember to put a period at the end of every sentence." "Dr. Smith graduated from medical school." "The interest rate is 3.5%."
Synonyms: full stop (British English), dot
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a punctuation mark, but one could consider other punctuation marks as contrasts) comma, question mark, exclamation mark
A woman's menstrual cycle; the flow of blood during menstruation.
Definition: The recurring process in which the lining of the uterus is shed, accompanied by bleeding, typically occurring monthly in non-pregnant women of reproductive age.
Examples: "She started her first period when she was twelve." "Her periods have been irregular lately."
Synonyms: menstruation, menses, cycle, time of the month
Antonyms: (No direct antonym for the biological process itself, but states of absence could be considered) menopause, pregnancy
A complete instance or occurrence of something.
Definition: A single, distinct instance or occurrence of an event, often implying a natural conclusion or break.
Examples: "After a brief period of silence, the audience applauded." "He went through a difficult period in his life."
Synonyms: spell, bout, stretch, run, phase, episode
Antonyms: (Context-dependent) continuity, endlessness
Adjective
Relating to or characteristic of a specific past era.
Definition: Pertaining to a particular historical time, often implying a style, costume, or artifact that accurately reflects that era.
Examples: "They performed a period play in authentic costumes." "The house was decorated with beautiful period furniture."
Synonyms: historical, vintage, classic, era-specific, archaic
Antonyms: modern, contemporary, anachronistic, futuristic
Adverb (Informal, North American English)
Used to emphasize the finality of a statement, indicating that no further discussion or argument is needed.
Definition: An emphatic word placed at the end of a sentence to convey that a statement is definitive and leaves no room for debate or qualification.
Examples: "I'm not going, period." "This is how it's going to be, period."
Synonyms: definitively, absolutely, finally, end of story, that's it
Antonyms: provisionally, perhaps, maybe, tentatively, possibly
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, April 1859)
"During this period, the Roman Empire reached its greatest territorial extent." (Mary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, October 2015)
Newspapers:
"The central bank expects inflation to remain elevated for a longer period than previously forecast." (The Wall Street Journal)
"Nairobi is currently experiencing a dry period, with residents urged to conserve water." (Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Why are we so obsessed with period dramas? From 'Bridgerton' to 'Downton Abbey,' these shows offer an escape into different historical periods." (Vogue.com)
"Understanding your menstrual cycle: What's normal for a period?" (MayoClinic.org)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is set in a fictional European country during a tumultuous interwar period. (Search for "The Grand Budapest Hotel" film reviews/descriptions)
Television Series: "The Crown" meticulously recreates various periods of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. (Search for "The Crown" series descriptions)
Music (Song Title/Lyrics): "End of an Era" (often referencing a significant time period ending). (Example: "One Last Dance" by R. City featuring Adam Levine, with lyrics like "It's the end of an era, baby...",)
Podcasts: "Throughline" by NPR often delves into the history of a specific event or idea over a particular period. (NPR.org)
Video Games: "Assassin's Creed Valhalla" is set in the Viking Age, a historical period spanning roughly the late 8th to mid-11th centuries. (Ubisoft)
General Public Discourse:
"I'm not going to argue about this, period." (Heard in everyday conversation, implying finality)
"My doctor said it's normal to have irregular periods in your teenage years." (Common discussion among friends or family)
"That's a beautiful period piece, really takes you back in time." (Referring to furniture or clothing style, overheard in a store)
"The new school schedule has longer class periods." (Discussion among students or parents about school changes)
10 Quotes Using Period
"History is a vast early warning system." (Norman Cousins, as cited by Saturday Review, February 1980, discussing the value of studying a period of time)
"There is no real ending. It’s just the period at the end of a sentence." (Oprah Winfrey, O, The Oprah Magazine)
"I went to a school where they asked you what you wanted to be, and I said 'an artist' and they said 'for a living?' And I said 'no, as a life period.'" (Andy Warhol, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again)
"Every new period of life is a new school of experience." (J.R. Lowell, The North American Review)
"Art is never finished, only abandoned." (Leonardo da Vinci, often quoted in discussions about the completion or period of a work's creation)
"This is a period of transition, but it is also a period of great opportunity." (Barack Obama, Speech at the Young African Leaders Initiative Town Hall)
"I'm not a feminist, and I don't want to be. I don't believe in that period." (Miley Cyrus, Marie Claire)
"During this period of expansion, the country saw significant technological advancements." (From a historical text discussing a specific period of growth)
"The most productive period for a writer is often when they are not writing." (Attributed to various authors, discussing the creative process over a period of time)
"The present is the only period of time to which we have full access." (An observation on time and mindfulness)
Etymology
The word "period" has a rich history, tracing its roots back to ancient Greek!
Imagine a journey, a path that goes all the way around and comes back to where it started. That's essentially the core idea. The word comes from the Greek word "periodos", which literally meant "a going around," "a circuit," or "a way around." It's formed from two parts: "peri-" meaning "around," and "hodos" meaning "way" or "path."
From this idea of a complete circuit, the meaning expanded. The Romans adopted it into Latin as "periodus," where it came to mean a "recurring cycle." Think of things that repeat, like the cycles of the moon or the recurring events in a game.
When the word entered English in the early 15th century (specifically, the early 1400s), its first main meaning was "a course or extent of time" or "a cycle of recurrence," often used in medical contexts to describe the cycle of a disease. So, the very first meaning was tied to the idea of a complete round of time or a repeating pattern.
Over time, this core idea of "completion" or "a defined interval" branched out into the many meanings we use today: the punctuation mark that signals the end of a thought (a complete sentence), a specific era in history, a division of time in a school day, or even the monthly biological cycle for women.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Period
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "period":
Period piece: An artwork, film, play, or piece of furniture that is characteristic of a particular historical era.
End of an era/period: The conclusion of a significant and distinct time.
During the same period: Referring to events happening concurrently.
For a sustained period: Over a long, uninterrupted duration.
In a short period of time: Quickly; over a brief duration.
Transition period: A time of change from one state or phase to another.
Study period: A designated time for independent academic work.
A full stop/period: Used emphatically to mean "that's final" or "no more discussion."
Going through a rough period: Experiencing a difficult time.
Grace period: An extra amount of time allowed for payment or completion without penalty.
Critical period: A specific time during development when an organism is particularly susceptible to certain environmental influences.
Cooling-off period: A time of delay, often legally mandated, to allow parties to reconsider a decision or agreement.
Interwar period: The time between World War I and World War II.
Golden Age/Period: A time of great prosperity, achievement, or creativity.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of period from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
