Lexical Definition

‎περί‎ perí (per-ee') about ^G:PREP
from the base of ‎πέραν‎

(there-)about, above, against, at, on behalf of, X and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, X how it will go with, ((there-, where-)) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, X (e-)state, (as) touching, (where-)by (in), with.

• properly, through (all over), i.e. around
• figuratively with respect to
• used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point
• with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period)

Abbott-Smith

περί, prep. c. gen., acc. (in cl. also c. dat.; cf. M, Pr., 105f.),
with radical sense round about (as distinct from ἀμφί, on both sides).
I. C. gen.,
1. of place, about (poët.).
2. Causal, about, on account of, concerning, in reference to: Mt 2:8, Mk 1:44, Lk 4:38, Jo 16:26, Ac 28:21, al. mult.; τὰ περί, c. gen., the things concerning one, one's state or case: Mk 5:27, Ac 1:3 28:15, Eph 6:22, al.; at the beginning of a sentence, περί, regarding, as to, I Co 7:1, al.; in the sense on account of (Mt 26:28, I Co 1:13, al.), often with ὑπέρ as variant (cf. M, Pr., 105).
II. C. acc.,
1. of place, about, around: Mt 3:4, Mk 1:6, Lk 13:8, Ac 22:6, al.; οἱ περί, c. acc. pers., of one's associates, friends, etc., Mk 4:10, Lk 22:49, Jo 11:19, Ac 13:13; οἱ περὶ τ. τοιαῦτα ἐργάται, Ac 19:25; metaph., about, as to, concerning: I Ti 1:19 6:4, II Ti 2:18 3:8, Tit 2:7; τὰ περὶ ἐμέ, Phl 2:23; αἱ περὶ τ. λοιπὰ ἐπιθυμίαι, Mk 4:19.
2. Of time, in a loose reckoning, about, near: Mt 20:3, 5, 6, 9 27:46, Mk 6:48, Ac 10:3, 9 22:6.
III. In composition: round about (περιβάλλω, περίκειμαι), beyond, over and above (περιποιέω, περιλείπω), to excess (περιεργάζομαι, περισσεύω).

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

περί,

Thess., Delph. περ [Refs 5th c.BC+], also Aeolic dialect, see below [Refs 4th c.BC+] V; Elean παρ [Refs]: preposition with genitive, dative, and accusative:—round about, all round (properly different from ἀμφί, on both sides). (Cogn. with Sanskrit pári 'round about'.)

__A WITH GENITIVE,
__A.I of Place, sometimes in Poets, round about, around, τετάνυστο π. σπείους ἡμερίς [Refs 8th c.BC+], on both sides, see at {περιβαίνω} [Refs]
__A.I.2 about near, π. σοῦ πάντα γένοιτο ῥόδα [Refs]
__A.II to denote the object about or for which one does something:
__A.II.1 with Verbs of fighting or contending, π. τινός for an object—from the notion of the thing's lying in the middle to be fought about, π. τῶνδε for these prizes, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; δόλους καὶ μῆτιν ὕφαινον, ὥς τε π. ψυχῆς since it was for my life, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; in Prose, τρέχειν π. ἑωυτοῦ, π. τῆς ψυχῆς, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; and without a Verb, π. γῆς ὅρων διαφοραί [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but ἐρίσσαι π. μύθων contend about speaking, i. e. who can speak best, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__A.II.2 with words which denote care or anxiety, about, on account of, π. Τρώων.. μερμηρίζειν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κρίνειν, διαγιγνώσκειν π. τ., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τ. ψηφίζεσθαι, διαψηφίζεσθαι, ψῆφον φέρειν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; διανοεῖσθαι, σκοπεῖν π. τινός, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. πότου γοῦν ἐστί σο; so with you it is a question of drink? [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.II.3 with Verbs of hearing, knowing, speaking, etc., about, concerning, π. νόστου ἄκουσα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; π. τινὸς ἐρέειν, λέγειν, λόγον ποιήσασθαι, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τινὸς ἀγγεῖλαι, κηρῦξαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τινὸς διελθεῖν, διεξελθεῖν, διηγεῖσθαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.II.4 of impulse or motive rather than object, ἐμαρνάσθην ἔριδος πέρι fought for very enmity, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__A.II.5 about, in regard to, μεμηνυμένος π. τινός [Refs 5th c.BC+]: in Prose frequently without a Verb, ἡ π. τῶν Μαντινικῶν πρᾶξις [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ π. τινός the circumstances of.., [Refs]; οὕτω δὴ καὶ π. τῶν ἀρετῶν (i.e. ἔχει) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τοῦ καταλειφθῆναι τὸν σῖτον as for reserving the corn, [Refs 3rd c.BC+] as to number, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; χρηστηρίων δὲ πέρι.. [Refs]
__A.III before, above, beyond, of superiority, chiefly in Epic dialect, π. πάντων ἔμμεναι ἄλλων [Refs 8th c.BC+] in understanding to be beyond them, [Refs 8th c.BC+] —In this sense π. is sometimes adverbial, and the genitive is absent, see below [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.IV in [Refs 5th c.BC+] it is of much consequence, worth much, to us, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. πολλοῦ ποιεῖσθαί τινας to reckon them for, i.e. worth, much, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. πλείονος, π. πλείστου ποιεῖσθαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. ἐλάττονος ἡγούμενοι, π. οὐδενὸς ἡγήσασθαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.V Aeolic dialect περί and περ ={ὑπέρ, στροῦθοι περὶ γᾶς.. δίννεντες πτέρα} [Refs 7th c.BC+]; περ κεφάλας probably in [Refs 7th c.BC+]; also Hellenistic, ὃ διέγραψε Προῖτος περί μου paid on my behalf, PCair. Zen.[Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__B WITH DATIVE (in Attic dialect Prose mostly in signification [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.I of Place, round about, around, of close-fitting dresses, armour, etc., ἔνδυνε π. στήθεσσι χιτῶνα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; οἱ στρεπτοὶ οἱ π. τῇ δέρῃ καὶ τὰ ψέλια π. ταῖς χερσί[Refs 8th c.BC+]; in other relations, π. δ᾽ ἔγχεϊ χεῖρα καμεῖται will grow weary by grasping the spear,[Refs]: rarely in Trag., π. βρέτει πλεχθείς [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.I.2 in Poets, also, around a weapon, i. e. spitted upon it, transfixed by it, π. δουρὶ πεπαρμένη [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__B.I.3 of a warrior standing over a dead comrade so as to defend him, ἀμφὶ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ αὐτῷ βαῖν᾽, ὥς τις π. πόρτακι μήτηρ [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II of an object for or about which one struggles (compare above [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__B.II.2 with Verbs denoting care, anxiety, or the opposite (compare above [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__B.II.3 generally, of the cause or occasion, on account of, by reason of, ἀτύζεσθαι π. καπνῷ, variant for{ὑπὸ καπνοῦ} in [Refs 8th c.BC+] for fear, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τιμᾷ in honour or praise, [Refs]; π. τάρβει, π. φόβῳ, [Refs 4th c.BC+] —but π. θυμῷ is falsa lectio in [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__C WITH ACCUSATIVE,
__C.I of Place, properly of the object round about which motion takes place, π. βόθρον ἐφοίτων came flocking round the pit, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐρύσας π. σῆμα [Refs 8th c.BC+]: also of extension round, ἑστάμεναι π. τοῖχον, π. βωμόν, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; π. τὴν κρήνην εὕδειν somewhere near it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. λίθον πεσών upon it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. αὑτὰ καταρρεῖν collapse upon themselves, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πλεῦνες π. ἕνα many to one, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τὸν ἄρξαντα.. τὸ ἀδίκημά ἐστι is imputable to him who.., [Refs 5th c.BC+] substantive only, ἡ π. Λέσβον ναυμαχία the sea-fight off Lesbos, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__C.I.2 of persons who are about one, ἔχειν τινὰ π. αὑτόν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; especially οἱ π. τινά a person's attendants, connexions, associates, or colleagues, οἱ π. τὸν Πείσανδρον πρέσβεις [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ π. Ἡράκλειτον his school, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ π. Ἀρχίαν πολέμαρχοι Archias and his colleagues, [Refs]; οἱ π. τινά so-and-so and his family, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; later οἱ π. τινά, periphrastic for the person himself, οἱ π. Φαβρίκιον Fabricius, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; compare ἀμφί C. 1.3.
__C.I.3 of the object about which one is occupied or concerned, π. δόρπα πονεῖσθαι, π. δεῖπνον πένεσθαι, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; later mostly εἶναι π. τι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. γυναῖκας γενέσθαι Vett.[Refs 5th c.BC+]; in periphrastic phrases, οἱ π. τὴν ποίησιν καὶ τοὺς λόγους ὄντες poets and orators, [Refs 5th c.BC+] ministers of the mysteries, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ π. τὸν ἵππον the groom, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__C.I.4 round or about a place, and so in, π. νῆσον ἀλώμενοι [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἃν π. ψυχὰν γάθησεν in his heart, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ π. Φωκίδα τόποι [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
__C.I.5 about, in the case of, τὰ π. τὴν Αἴγυπτον γεγονότα, τὰ π. Μίλητον γενόμενα, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ποιέειν or πράττειν τι π. τινά, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σπουδάζειν π. τινά promote his cause, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: without a Verb, αἱ π. τοὺς παῖδας συμφοραί [Refs 5th c.BC+]: generally, of all relations, about, concerning, in respect of, π. μὲν τοὺς ἰχθύας οὕτως ἔχει [Refs 5th c.BC+]; as to [Refs 5th c.BC+] adjective, ὄργανα ὅσα π. γεωργίαν, i.e. γεωργικά[Refs]; also in place of a genitive, οἱ π. Αυσίαν λόγοι the speeches of L., [Refs]; ἡ π. Φίλιππον τυραννίς the despotism of P., [Refs 5th c.BC+]: in Prose, to denote circumstances connected with any person or thing, τὰ π. Κῦρον, τὰ π. Ἑλένην, τὰ π. Βάττον, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ π. τὸν Ἄθων the works at Mount Athos, [Refs]; τὰ π. τὰς ναῦς naval affairs, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ π. τὴν ναυμαχίαν (variant for{τῆς ναυμαχίας}) the events of.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__C.II of Time, π. λύχνων ἁφάς about the time of lamp-lighting, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. μέσας νύκτας about midnight, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. ἡλίου δυσμάς[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__C.II.2 of round numbers, π. ἑβδομήκοντα about seventy, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__D Position: π. may follow its substantive, when it suffers anastrophe, ἄστυ πέρι [Refs 8th c.BC+] only once uses it before its genitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__E περί absolutely, as adverb., around, about, also, near, by, frequently in [περί τ᾽ ἀμφί τε κάλλος ἄητο ">Refs 8th c.BC+]round about, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__E.II before or above others [Refs 4th c.BC+], exceedingly, only Epic dialect, in which case it commonly suffers anastrophe, Τυδεΐδη, πέρι μέν σε τίον Δαναοί [Refs 8th c.BC+]; σε χρὴ πέρι μὲν φάσθαι ἔπος ἠδ᾽ ἐπακοῦσαι[Refs 8th c.BC+]
__E.II.2 π. does not suffer anastrophe in the Epic dialect phrase π. κῆρι right heartily, π. κῆρι φίλησε [Refs 8th c.BC+]; π. κῆρι τιέσκετο[Refs 8th c.BC+]
__E.II.3 for περὶ πρό, see at {περιπρό}.
__E.II.4 περὶ κάτω bottom upwards, δῖνος π. κάτω τετραμμένος [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__F IN COMPOSITION (joined with other words), all its chief senses recur, especially
__F.I extension in all directions as from a centre, all round, as in περιβάλλω, περιβλέπω, περιέχω.
__F.II completion of an orbit and return to the same point, about, as in περιάγω, περιβαίνω, περίειμι (εἶμι ibo), περιέρχομαι, περιστρέφω.
__F.III a going over or beyond, above, before, as in περιβαίνω III, περιβάλλω see, περιγίγνομαι, περιεργάζομαι, περιτοξεύω.
__F.IV generally, a strengthening of the simple notion, beyond measure, very, exceedingly, as in περικαλλής, περίκηλος, περιδείδω, like Latin per-.
__F.V the notion of double-ness which belongs to ἀμφί is found in only one poetic compound, περιδέξιος (which see).
__G PROSODY: περί never suffers elision in [περίαχε “Th.” 678 (compare 4th c.AD(?): Quintus Smyrnaeus Epicus 3.601, 11.382), see.{ἰάχω}">Refs 8th c.BC+] near the end; περ᾽ ἰγνύῃσι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in Comedy texts and codices of Prose writers only in participle of περίειμι (εἶμι ibo) (which see):—π. stands before a word beginning with a vowel in Comedy texts, περὶ Ἀθηνῶν, περὶ ἐμοῦ, [Refs 5th c.BC+] {περιαγαπάζομαι}:—Aeolic dialect περρ for the sake of meter, see [Refs 4th c.BC+]