perfectio

Forms

perfectiō f (genitive perfectiōnis); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from perficiō “to complete, perfect” with the suffix -tiō; ⟨perficiō⟩ is from per- and faciō “to make”.^[2][1][3] De Vaan traces ⟨faciō⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- (“to put”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's earliest source is Cicero, whom he dates 81–43 BC, and the OLD's first citations are from Cicero.^[5][2]

Semantic evolution

It was the bringing of a work to completion, completion, as in Cicero; and the bringing to perfection, the perfected state, perfection, as in Cicero's optimī perfectiō atque absolūtiō.^[2][6]

In Ecclesiastical and Medieval Latin it was perfection, the perfect state.^[7][8] British Medieval Latin used it for the completion of a process or an artefact.^[9] English perfection (early 13th century) came through Old French perfection.^[3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it.^[2][5]
• early 13th century – English perfection is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Completion, finishing.^[2]
2. Perfection.^[2]

Related words

• perficiō
• perfectus
• English perfection

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
8. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
9. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press