Periodic

How to spell periodic

8 letters · 4 syllables

How to pronounce periodic

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does periodic mean?

1. adjectiveHappening or recurring at regular intervals.

Periodic in a sentence

• The landlord scheduled periodic inspections of the property every six months.

• Periodic maintenance keeps the heating system running through winter.

Where does periodic come from?

Language of origin: Greek

This word traces back to the Greek periodos, meaning a 'circuit' or 'going round', which was built from peri 'around' and hodos 'way' or 'path', so the literal sense was something that travels round and comes back to where it started. Greek passed it to Latin as periodus, and then through French it gave English the noun 'period', first used in the late Middle Ages for a complete cycle or a recurring span of time. The adjective 'periodic' was formed by adding the familiar -ic ending and came into English in the seventeenth century to describe anything that happens at regular, repeating intervals. The same circling idea is why a 'period' marks the end of a sentence and why astronomers speak of the period of an orbit. For spelling, it helps to remember the hidden two-part path inside the word: peri (around) joined to a root meaning 'way', which keeps the single d and the i-o vowels in the right order.

How the word is built

• peri- (around)
• hod (from Greek hodos: way, path)
• -ic (adjective suffix)