perfect
UK: ˈpɜːfɪkt | US: ˈpɜːrfɪkt
adj. having all the required or desirable elements; flawless
vt. to make something completely free from faults or defects
n. (archaic) the perfect tense or a verb form in this tense
perfect = per<through, thoroughly> + fect<make, do>
- per: From Latin per, meaning "through" or "thoroughly." Implies completeness or intensity.
- fect: From Latin facere (via Old French fait), meaning "to make" or "to do."
Etymology Origin:
The word perfect traces back to Latin perfectus (past participle of perficere, "to complete"), combining per- (thoroughly) + facere (to make). It entered English via Old French parfit, retaining the core idea of something "thoroughly made" or "flawlessly completed." The evolution reflects a shift from literal completion to abstract excellence.
She practiced for years to achieve a perfect performance.
The artist perfected his technique through relentless experimentation.
Nothing in nature is absolutely perfect.
"Practice makes perfect" is a common proverb.
The diamond’s cut was nearly perfect, with no visible flaws.