peri- Word Origin
- 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).
Origin of peri- Greek, prefixal use of perí (adv. and preposition) British Dictionary definitions for peri- peri- prefix
- enclosing, encircling, or aroundpericardium; pericarp; perigon
- near or adjacentperihelion
Word Origin for peri- from Greek peri around, near, about Word Origin and History for peri-
word-forming element meaning “around, about, enclosing,” from Greek peri (prep.) “around, about, beyond,” cognate with Sanskrit pari “around, about, through,” Latin per, from PIE *per- (1) “forward, through” (see per).
peri- in Medicine peri- pref.
- Around; about; enclosing:perimysium.
- Near:perinatal.
peri- in Science peri-
- A prefix that means: around (as in pericardium,) or near (as in perihelion).