Standard Lemma guide

periegesis

noun · 1 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌpɛ.ɹɪ.əˈd͡ʒiː.sɪs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˌpɛ.ɹi.əˈd͡ʒi.sɪs/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A description of an area or territory.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • a periegesis of Greece

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Koine Greek περιήγησις (periḗgēsis, “the action of being shown around, as by a guide (chiefly in the titles of works)”), from Ancient Greek περι- (peri-, “around, surrounding”) + ἥγησις (hḗgēsis, “command, leading”) (from ἡγέομαι (hēgéomai, “to lead”) + -σῐς (-sĭs, noun-forming suffix)), from περιηγεῖσθαι (periēgeîsthai, “to lead around”); compare Late Latin periegesis. Cognate with Greek περιήγηση (periígisi, “tour, sightseeing”).

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: périégèse — description of an area or territory
  • German: Periegese — description of an area or territory
  • German: Periegesis — description of an area or territory
  • Ancient Greek: περιήγησις (periḗgēsis) — description of an area or territory
  • Polish: periegeza — description of an area or territory