period Copy link Outline I. A stated number of years, days, etc.II. In chronological senseIII. Time indefinitelyIV. EndV. A complete sentence • period: I. A stated number of years, days, etc.: numerus annorum, spatium annorum (temporis): Tac. A. 6, 28 (concerning the Egyptian period of the Phoenix). Also, numerus temporis, Cic. Tim. 9, fin.; spatium temporis, Caes. B. G. 6, 18. Phr.: a year is a complete solar p., annus est, sol ubi suum totum confecit et peragravit orbem, Cic. Tim. 9, med. II. In chronological sense: tempus, aetas: v. age. III. Time indefinitely: tempestas (esp. frequent in Sall.), tempus: v. time. IV. End: fīnis, termĭnus: v. end. To put a p. to, fīnio, 4: to put a p. to one's toils, labores f., Hor. Od. 3, 4, 39: to put a p. to one's life, vitam [voluntaria morte] f., Plin. 6, 19, 22. v. to terminate. V. A complete sentence: pĕrĭŏdus or -os, i, f. (Gr. περίοδος): a p. has at least two members, habet p. membra minimum duo, Quint. 9, 4, 125, et sqq.: a long p., p. longior, id. 11, 3, 53. (N.B.--Not used by Cic., except as Gk., cf. id. Or. 61, 204, quem Graeci περίοδον, nos tum ambitum, tum circuitum, tum comprehensionem, aut continuationem, aut circumscriptionem vocamus: but in critical lang., it is often better to follow Quint., who notices the various attempted synonyms of Cic., Inst. Or. 9, 4, 124.) Phr.: to recite a very long p. without taking fresh breath, longissimam verborum complexionem uno spiritu volvere, cf. Cic. de Or. 3, 47, 182: to avoid long p.s, longam verborum continuationem fugere, Auct. Her. 4, 12, 18: harmonious, well defined, rounded p.s, arguti, certique, et circumscripti verborum ambitus, Cic. Or. 12, 38.