perfectus Latin · revision 8172

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cato|origins=la faciō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [pɛrˈfɛk.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [perˈfɛk.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''perfectus''' (feminine perfecta, neuter perfectum); first/second-declension participle^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the participle of [[perficiō]] “to complete”, from [[per-]] “through” and [[faciō]] “to make”, continuing Proto-Italic ⟨*perifaktos⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Cato, of the fully grown.^(OLD 2012) Köbler's first source is Cicero; he dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant fully grown, mature, as in Cato, and in Celsus complete.^(OLD 2012) 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.^(OLD 2012) 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.^(Isidore)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant perfect, complete, righteous, excellent.^(Stelten 1995) Medieval Latin used it for faultless.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in Italian ''perfetto'', French ''parfait'' and Spanish ''perfecto'', and Old French gave Middle English ''parfit'' about 1300, respelled [[en|perfect]] after the Latin in the early 15th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of the fully grown.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of the perfect tense.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''parfit'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Fully grown, mature.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Complete.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|Perfect]], finished.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(grammar)'' Of the [[m|en|perfect]] tense.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[perficiō]]

+ * [[faciō]]

+ * [[perfectiō]]

+ * [[en|perfect]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A noun ''perfectus, -ūs'' means a result, effect.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}