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πέρι

peri (a beautiful supernatural being in Persian mythology, similar to a fairy) /ˈpe.ri/

nounC1#3712 most common

Also: fairy of Persian legend, winged spirit

Example sentences

Η πέρι είναι ένα μαγικό πλάσμα από περσικούς μύθους.
The peri is a magical creature from Persian myths.
Στο παραμύθι, μια πέρι βοηθάει τον ήρωα να βρει τον δρόμο του.
In the fairy tale, a peri helps the hero find his way.
Οι πέρι συχνά απεικονίζονται με φτερά σαν πεταλούδας.
Peris are often depicted with butterfly-like wings.
Ο ποιητής Τόμας Μουρ γράφει για μια πέρι που κλαίει έξω από τις πύλες του παραδείσου.
The poet Thomas Moore writes of a peri weeping outside the gates of paradise.
Στη ρομαντική λογοτεχνία, η πέρι συμβολίζει την αγνότητα που αναζητά τη λύτρωση.
In romantic literature, the peri symbolizes a purity seeking redemption.
Η εικόνα της πέρι, δανεισμένη από την περσική μυθολογία, διαποτίζει την ανατολίτικη ποίηση του δέκατου ένατου αιώνα.
The image of the peri, borrowed from Persian mythology, runs through nineteenth century oriental poetry.

Declension

CaseSingularPlural
Nominativeη πέριοι πέρι
Genitiveτης πέριτων πέρι
Accusativeτην πέριτις πέρι
Vocativeπέριπέρι

Word family

νεράιδαfairy (native Greek term, closest everyday synonym)
μάγισσαwitch, sorceress
πλάσμαcreature, beingπαραμύθιfairy tale, the genre where a πέρι typically appears

Etymology

Πέρι comes from the Persian pari, a winged spirit in Persian folklore, part beautiful, part dangerous. The word entered European languages in the nineteenth century through Orientalist literature, notably Thomas Moore's poem cycle Lalla Rookh, which includes the section Paradise and the Peri. Greek borrowed the term directly, keeping it indeclinable, as it did with other foreign nouns.

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