pe·ri (pîr ē)
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n. pl. pe·ris In Persian mythology, a beautiful and benevolent supernatural being or fairy, earlier regarded as malevolent.
[Persian parī, from Middle Persian parīg, malevolent sprite, from Avestan pairikā, a kind of female demon, sorceress, from Proto-Iranian *parikā, woman of low status, concubine, witch (compare Sogdian prγš, servant woman, and Khotanese pālīka, woman of low status, in pālīka-putra, sons of a woman of low status (exact meaning uncertain)); perhaps akin to Old Irish airech, woman of low status, concubine.] |