- perfect
- per•fectadj., n. [[t]ˈpɜr fɪkt[/t]] v. [[t]pərˈfɛkt[/t]] adj.1) conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type:a perfect gentleman[/ex]2) excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement3) exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose:the perfect actor for the part[/ex]4) entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings:a perfect apple[/ex]5) accurate, exact, or correct in every detail:a perfect copy[/ex]6) thorough; complete; utter:perfect strangers[/ex]7) unqualified; absolute:perfect control[/ex]8) expert; accomplished; proficient9) unmitigated:a perfect fool[/ex]10) botmonoclinous11) gram.a) of or designating a verb tense, aspect, or form typically indicating an action or state extending up to, or having results continuing up to, the present or some other temporal point of referenceb) of or designating a verb tense, as in Greek, indicating an action or state brought to a close prior to some temporal point of reference, in contrast to imperfect or incomplete action12) mad pertaining to or being the consonant musical intervals of an octave, fifth, or fourth13) Obs. assured or certain14) to bring to perfection; make flawless or faultless15) to bring nearer to perfection; improve16) to bring to completion; finish17) gram. the perfect tense or aspect18) gram. a verb form or construction in the perfect tense or aspect•Etymology: 1250–1300; late ME; MEperfit, parfit< OF < L perfectus, ptp. of perficere to finish, bring to completion =per- per- +-ficere, comb. form of facere to make, do I per•fect′er, n. per′fect•ness, n. usage: Some usage guides still object to the use of such comparative terms as most, more, and rather with perfect on the grounds that perfect describes an absolute condition that cannot exist in degrees. The English language has never agreed to this limitation. perfect has been compared since its earliest use, first in the obsolete forms perfecter and perfectest and later with more, most, and similar words, in most of its general senses in all varieties of speech and writing: the most perfect arrangement imaginable. One of the objectives of the writers of the U.S. Constitution was “to form a more perfect union.” See also complete, unique
From formal English to slang. 2014.