periphery
(pəˈrɪfərɪ, ˈpɛrɪfərɪ)
Also 4–6 periferie; 7 in L. form periˈpheria.
[= OF. periferie, -pherie, ad. late L. peripherīa circumference, etc., a. Gr. περιϕέρεια circumference, line round a circle, outer surface, deriv. n. from περιϕερής moving round, revolving round; f. περί round about + ϕέρ-ειν to bear, carry: cf. L. circum-ferens bearing or moving round.]
† 1. Each of the layers or strata (lower, middle, and upper) of the atmosphere enveloping the earth. (= med.L. periferia in same sense.) Obs.
| 1390 Gower Conf. III. 93 This Air in Periferies thre Divided is. |
2. The line that forms the boundary,
esp. of any round or rounded surface.
spec. in
Geom. The circumference of a circle or of any closed curvilinear figure; also, the sum of the sides of a polygonal figure; a perimeter;
† formerly
rarely, an arc, a section of the circumference (
obs.). Also
fig.| 1571 Digges Pantom. iii. iii. Q ij, The side of the Cone augmented in halfe the Peripherie of his base. 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie ii. xi. (Arb.) 114 The figure Ouall..keeping within one line for his periferie or compasse as the rounde. 1660 Barrow Euclid iii. xxix, In equal circles equal right lines subtend equal peripheries. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) II. 522/2 A spectator at rest, without the periphery of the moon's orbit. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 667 A locomotive steam-engine does not exert the same constant force on the peripheries of the wheels of the carriage, when it moves at different velocities. 1842 E. Wilson Anat. Vade M. (ed. 2) 5 In flat bones the osseous tissue radiates..from a central point towards the periphery. 1858 J. Martineau Stud. Chr. 270 Whose vision is bounded by the periphery of a given creed. |
| β 1644 Evelyn Diary 12 Nov., The whole oval peripheria 28881/7 palmes. 1650 Bulwer Anthropomet. 187 The Peripheria of the Breast is two Geometrical foot and two inches. 1693 tr. Blancard's Phys. Dict. (ed. 2), Peripheria, the Circumference of the Body, or any Entrail thereof. |
b. More generally: The external boundary or surface of any space or body; something forming such a boundary.
| 1666 Harvey Morb. Angl. xxvi. (1672) 61 Sufficient to exterminate noxious humours to the periphery or outward parts. 1803 Syd. Smith Wks. (1859) I. 38/1 We possess the whole of the sea-coast, and enclose in a periphery the unfortunate King of Candia. 1809 W. Irving Knickerb. (1861) 60 Laying his hands on each side of his capacious periphery, and rolling his half-closed eyes around. 1841 Lever C. O'Malley xiii, In one instant he became the centre to a periphery of kicks: cuffs: pullings, and haulings. 1879 Calderwood Mind & Br. ii. 10 The periphery or external extremities of the system, where there is contact with the outer world. 1898 Allbutt's Syst. Med. V. 1 The lobules, which may be regarded as the pulmonary periphery. |
c. loosely, A surrounding region, space, or area.
| 1759 B. Martin Nat. Hist. Eng. I. Middlesex 261 Spacious Peripheries of Enrichment. 1822–29 Good's Study Med. (ed. 3) II. 593 Some seem to dissolve..and hence spread their influence through very confined peripheries. 1872 tr. Figuier's Hum. Race i. 49 Throughout the whole periphery of this country there exists no identity either of customs, language or religion. |