per English · revision 2028

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1588|origins=ine-pro *per-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /pɜː/ (strong), /pə/ (weak); US /pɝː/, /pɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|per|t=through, during, by means of, on account of]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(RHWU) partly through [[fro|per]], whose modern form is [[fr|par]].^(COED 2004)^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) It comes from [[ine-pro|*per-|t=forward, through, across]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Klein 1966) which also gave [[grc|περί|tr=perí|t=around, about, beyond]], [[lt|per|t=through]], and through Germanic the English prefix [[for-]] and the word [[far]].^(Klein 1966) Latin ''per'' is related to English [[for]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “Through, by means of”: 1588,^(Barnhart 1988) although Latin phrases with ''per'' had been used in English since the 15th century.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Before it was an English preposition, ''per'' came in through Latin and French phrases:^(Etymonline) Latin ones such as ''per diem'' (1520), ''per se'' (1572), ''per annum'' (1601), ''per capita'' and ''per stirpes'' (both 1682),^(Barnhart 1988) and Old French ones fused into [[peradventure]], [[perforce]] and [[perhaps]].^(Hoad 1986) In heraldry ''per'' means “in the direction of”, as in ''party per pale''.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) The distributive sense “for each” is first recorded in 1598.^(Barnhart 1988) The sense “according to, as shown by” (''per invoice'') is commercial, and gave the jocular ''as per usual''.^(Hoad 1986) The adverbial use “apiece, for each one” dates from 1899.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 15th century – in Latin phrases.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1520 – ''per diem''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1572 – ''per se''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1588 – preposition, by means of.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1598 – for each.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1601 – ''per annum''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1682 – ''per capita''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1899 – adverb, apiece.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # For each; for every: ''sixty miles per hour''.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # According to: ''per your instructions''.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # By means of; through.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # For each one; [[apiece]].^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[perhaps]]

+ * [[pay-per-view]]

+ * [[per annum]]

+ * [[per capita]]

+ * [[per centum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[per-]]

+ * [[perfect]]

+ * [[perfection]]

+ * [[perplex]]

+ * [[percent]]

+ * [[peradventure]]

+ * [[perforce]]

+ * [[for]]

+ * [[far]]

+ * [[peri-]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ RHWU and the AHD agree that ''per'' meaning “for each” belongs in technical, statistical and sports contexts and in stating ratios.^(RHWU)^(AHD) The sense “according to” is criticized in business writing by some,^(RHWU) and the AHD advises keeping it to business and legal writing unless a jocular formality is intended.^(AHD) The Cambridge pronouncing dictionary notes that ''per'' is almost always weak in ''per cent'' and ''per annum'' but usually strong in ''per head'' and ''per capita''.^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}