*periodic*

a. [ Pref. per- + iodic. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, the highest oxygen acid (HIO4) of iodine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A magazine or other publication which appears at stated or regular intervals. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. periodicus, Gr. periodiko`s: cf. F. périodique. ] 1. Of or pertaining to a period or periods, or to division by periods. [ 1913 Webster ]

The periodical times of all the satellites. Sir J. Herschel. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Performed in a period, or regular revolution; proceeding in a series of successive circuits; as, the periodical motion of the planets round the sun. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Happening, by revolution, at a stated time; returning regularly, after a certain period of time. [ 1913 Webster ]

The periodic return of a plant's flowering. Henslow. [ 1913 Webster ]

To influence opinion through the periodical press. Courthope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Acting, happening, or appearing, at fixed or somewhat variable intervals; recurring; as, periodical epidemics [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Rhet.) Of or pertaining to a period; constituting a complete sentence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Periodic comet (Astron.), a comet that moves about the sun in an elliptic orbit; a comet that has been seen at two of its approaches to the sun. --
Periodic function (Math.), a function whose values recur at fixed intervals as the variable uniformly increases. The trigonomertic functions, as sin(x), tan(x), etc., are periodic functions. Exponential functions are also periodic, having an imaginary period, and the elliptic functions have not only a real but an imaginary period, and are hence called doubly periodic. --
Periodic law (Chem.), the generalization that the properties of the chemical elements are periodic functions of their atomic weights. “In other words, if the elements are grouped in the order of their atomic weights, it will be found that nearly the same properties recur periodically throughout the entire series.” The following tabular arrangement of the atomic weights shows the regular recurrence of groups (under I., II., III., IV., etc.), each consisting of members of the same natural family. The gaps in the table indicate the probable existence of unknown elements. --
Periodic table,
Periodic table of the elements (Chem.), A tabular arrangement of the chemical elements, illustrating the periodic law, described above. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞Note: A modern version of the periodic table can be found at: https://iupac.org/what-we-do/periodic-table-of-elements/ [ PJC ]

-------------------------------------------------------------- |I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. | RH4 RH3 RH3 RH  |R2O RO R3O3 RO2 R2O5 RO3 R2O7 RO4  --------------------------------------------------------------

n. One who publishes, or writes for, a periodical. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a periodical{ 4 } manner; as, flooding occurs periodically in the valley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Periodicity. [ 1913 Webster ]