periyar
periyar Lexical Profile
• noun
An Indian social activist and politician, E. V. Ramasamy (1879–1973), who founded the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam, revered as the 'father of the Dravidian movement'.
"Periyar advocated for social equality, rationalism, and women's rights throughout Southern India."
The longest river in the Indian state of Kerala, often referred to as the 'Lifeline of Kerala', which provides significant water resources and hydroelectric power to the region.
"The dam constructed across the Periyar forms a large reservoir that is central to the local ecosystem and water supply."
A prominent national park and wildlife sanctuary located in the Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills of the Western Ghats in Kerala, India, renowned primarily as an elephant and tiger reserve.
"Tourists often take early morning boat rides in Periyar to spot herds of wild elephants drinking by the water's edge."
Word Nuance & Usage
Almost exclusively capitalized as 'Periyar', it is heavily context-dependent, referring either to the South Indian social reformer E. V. Ramasamy, or to significant geographic landmarks (a river and a national park) in Kerala, India.
• Rhymes for periyar
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Dravidian languages Tamil and Malayalam, combining 'periya' (great, big, or elder) and the honorific suffix '-ar', translating roughly to 'the great one' or 'respected elder'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.