What does the word period mean in the following context? It does not seem to be a part of the sentence.
— Could you please {do something}?
— I don't want to do that, period.
Answer
That is an intensifier:
Grammar. a word, especially an adverb, or other linguistic element that indicates, and usually increases, the degree of emphasis or force to be given to the element it modifies, as very or somewhat; intensive adverb.
In the example, it is equivalent to "at all".
I'd say that a more likely occurrence would be when some form of qualifier was originally specified:
"You don't want to go to football practice today?"
"I don't want to go to football practice, period."
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