perfect English · revision 3528

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1290 (parfijt)|origins=la perficere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: adjective UK /ˈpɜː.fɪkt/, US /ˈpɝː.fɪkt/; verb UK /pəˈfekt/, US /pɚˈfekt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|parfit|t=flawless, ideal]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) [[bor|fro|parfit|t=finished, completed, ready]] (modern [[m|fr|parfait]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|perfectus|t=completed, excellent, accomplished]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) the past participle of [[m|la|perficere|t=to accomplish, finish, complete]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) formed from [[m|la|per-|t=completely]] and [[m|la|facere|t=to make, do]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000)^(Hoad 1986) Etymonline traces ''facere'' to [[ine-pro|*dhe-|t=to set, put]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) The spelling ''perfect'', a classical correction after the Latin, dates from the 15th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) It is related to [[fact]], [[affect]], [[effect]] and [[parfait]].^(Klein 1966)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Fully formed, faultless: about 1290 in the form ''parfijt'',^(OED 1989) or about 1300;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Barnhart notes the surname Parfet in 1196.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Hoad dates “thoroughly versed or trained” and “in a complete state” to the 13th century, and “faultless, accurate” to the 14th.^(Hoad 1986) Of a legal act, “duly completed”, it is from about 1330.^(OED 1989) “Complete, full, lacking in no way” is from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and the noun “perfection” from the same time.^(Etymonline) In arithmetic, a ''perfect number'' is from the 15th century, and “unqualified, utter” from the 16th.^(Hoad 1986) The intensive use, as in ''a perfect stranger'', comes from the notion of completeness.^(Etymonline) The grammatical sense, of a tense describing a completed action, is from about 1500,^(Etymonline) and the noun ''the perfect'' from 1841.^(MW Collegiate) The verb meant “to bring to full development” from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and “to make perfect or faultless” from about 1449.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1196 – the surname Parfet.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1290 – faultless (''parfijt'').^(OED 1989)

+ * 13th century – thoroughly trained; complete.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * late 14th century – complete; verb, to bring to full development.^(Etymonline)

+ * 15th century – the spelling ''perfect''.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * c. 1500 – the perfect tense.^(Etymonline)

+ * 16th century – utter, unqualified.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1841 – noun, the perfect tense.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lacking nothing essential; complete.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Without defect or blemish; [[flawless]].^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # Thoroughly skilled; [[proficient]].^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # Completely suited to a purpose: ''the perfect gift''.^(AHD)

+ # Completely corresponding to a type; exact.^(AHD)^(Hoad 1986)

+ # Utter, absolute: ''a perfect stranger''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Of a tense, expressing completed action.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(grammar)'' The perfect tense, or a verb in it.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To bring to perfection or completion.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[perfecter]]

+ * [[perfectness]]

+ * [[perfectedly]]

+ * [[superperfect]]

+ * [[unperfect]]

+ * [[imperfect]]

+ * [[letter-perfect]]

+ * [[perfection]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[perfectible]]

+ * [[fact]]

+ * [[affect]]

+ * [[effect]]

+ * [[parfait]]

+ * [[perfective]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary notes that ''perfect'' has often been called an absolute term that cannot be qualified, but that ''more perfect'' has reputable precedents, most notably in the preamble to the US Constitution.^(AHD) It compares ''perfect'' with ''consummate'', ''faultless'', ''flawless'' and ''impeccable''.^(AHD) In Scotland and the north, ''perfect'' meant “thorough, utter”.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}