Real Dictionary

peri in American English
a fairy or elf descended from evil angels and barred from paradise until penance has been done
noun: one of a large group of beautiful, fairylike beings of Persian mythology, represented as descended from fallen angels and excluded from paradise until their penance is accomplished

peri in British English
noun: (in Persian folklore) one of a race of beautiful supernatural beings

peri- in American English
around, about, surrounding, enclosing
prefix: a prefix meaning “about” or “around” ( perimeter, periscope), “enclosing” or “surrounding” (pericardium), and “near” ( perigee, perihelion), appearing in loanwords from Greek (peripeteia). On this model, peri- is used in the formation of compound words (p

peri- in British English
prefix: enclosing, encircling, or around