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perfectus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word perfectus

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cato
Ultimate origin
Latin (faciō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [pɛrˈfɛk.tʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [perˈfɛk.tus][1]

Forms

perfectus (feminine perfecta, neuter perfectum); first/second-declension participle[1]

Etymology

It is the participle of perficiō “to complete”, from per- “through” and faciō “to make”, continuing Proto-Italic ⟨*perifaktos⟩.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cato, of the fully grown.[2] Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Cato 234–149 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant fully grown, mature, as in Cato, and in Celsus complete.[2] The Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of things finished so as to have every desired quality, perfect, and in Varro it named the perfect tense.[2] Isidore explains a perfect number as one equal to the sum of its parts, as six, and God as perfect because nothing can be added to him.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant perfect, complete, righteous, excellent.[6] Medieval Latin used it for faultless.[7] It survives in Italian perfetto, French parfait and Spanish perfecto, and Old French gave Middle English parfit about 1300, respelled English perfect after the Latin in the early 15th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of the fully grown.[2][4]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the perfect tense.[2][4]
  • c. 1300 – English parfit is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Fully grown, mature.[2]
  2. Complete.[2]
  3. Perfect, finished.[2]
  4. (grammar) Of the perfect tense.[2]

Usage notes

A noun perfectus, -ūs means a result, effect.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Isidore of Seville, Etymologiarum sive Originum libri XX, ed. W. M. Lindsay (Oxford, 1911).
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
Cite this entry

“Perfectus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/perfectus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·