Standard Lemma guide

pericope

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /pəˈɹɪkəpi/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A section of text forming a coherent thought, suitable for use in a speech.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rhetoric

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A passage of Scripture to be read in public worship or a book containing such passages.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The reader looked up the Sunday morning pericope.
  • The oldest known system of pericopes in the Western Church is ascribed to Jerome.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Late Latin pericope, from Ancient Greek περικοπή (perikopḗ, “section”), from περι- (peri-, “across”) + κοπή (kopḗ, “cutting”), from κόπτω (kóptō, “I cut”).

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: perikooppi — section of text forming a coherent thought
  • French: péricope — section of text forming a coherent thought
  • Greek: περικοπή (perikopí) — section of text forming a coherent thought
  • Indonesian: perikop — section of text forming a coherent thought
  • Macedonian: зачало (začalo) — section of text forming a coherent thought
  • Macedonian: перикопа (perikopa) — section of text forming a coherent thought
  • Finnish: raamatunkohta — passage of religious Scripture
  • French: péricope liturgique — passage of religious Scripture
  • German: Perikope — passage of religious Scripture
  • Greek: περικοπή (perikopí) — passage of religious Scripture
  • Indonesian: perikop — passage of religious Scripture
  • Macedonian: зачало (začalo) — passage of religious Scripture
  • Old Church Slavonic: зачало (začalo) — passage of religious Scripture
  • Polish: perykopa — passage of religious Scripture