perfect

perfect
perfectedly, adv.perfecter, n.perfectness, n.
adj., n. /perr"fikt/; v. /peuhr fekt"/, adj.
1. conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type: a perfect sphere; a perfect gentleman.
2. excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement: There is no perfect legal code. The proportions of this temple are almost perfect.
3. exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose: a perfect actor to play Mr. Micawber; a perfect saw for cutting out keyholes.
4. entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings: a perfect apple; the perfect crime.
5. accurate, exact, or correct in every detail: a perfect copy.
6. thorough; complete; utter: perfect strangers.
7. pure or unmixed: perfect yellow.
8. unqualified; absolute: He has perfect control over his followers.
9. expert; accomplished; proficient.
10. unmitigated; out-and-out; of an extreme degree: He made a perfect fool of himself.
11. Bot.
a. having all parts or members present.
b. monoclinous.
12. Gram.
a. noting an action or state brought to a close prior to some temporal point of reference, in contrast to imperfect or incomplete action.
b. designating a tense or other verb formation or construction with such meaning.
13. Music.
a. applied to the consonances of unison, octave, and fifth, as distinguished from those of the third and sixth, which are called imperfect.
b. applied to the intervals, harmonic or melodic, of an octave, fifth, and fourth in their normal form, as opposed to augmented and diminished.
14. Math. (of a set) equal to its set of accumulation points.
15. Obs. assured or certain.
n. Gram.
16. the perfect tense.
17. a verb form or construction in the perfect tense. Cf. future perfect, pluperfect, present perfect.
v.t.
18. to bring to completion; finish.
19. to bring to perfection; make flawless or faultless.
20. to bring nearer to perfection; improve.
21. to make fully skilled.
22. Print. to print the reverse of (a printed sheet).
[1250-1300; < L perfectus, ptp. of perficere to finish, bring to completion (per- PER- + -fec-, comb. form of facere to DO1 + -tus ptp. suffix); r. ME parfit < OF < L as above]
Syn. 1, 2. See complete. 4. unblemished; faultless.
Usage. A few usage guides still object to the use of comparison words such as more, most, nearly, almost, and rather with PERFECT on the grounds that PERFECT describes an absolute, yes-or-no condition that cannot logically be said to exist in varying degrees. The English language has never agreed to this limitation.
Since its earliest use in the 13th century, PERFECT has, like almost all adjectives, been compared, first in the now obsolete forms PERFECTER and PERFECTEST, and more recently with more, most, and similar comparison words: the most perfect arrangement of color and line imaginable. PERFECT is compared in most of its general senses in all varieties of speech and writing. After all, one of the objectives of the writers of the U.S. Constitution was "to form a more perfect union." See also complete, unique.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • perfect# — perfect adj Perfect, whole, entire, intact are comparable when they mean not deficient, defective, or faulty in any particular. Perfect is the usual term to describe such a condition, for it may imply not only the presence of every part, every… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • perfect — per·fect 1 / pər fikt/ adj: entirely without fault or defect: as a: satisfying all requirements failed to make perfect tender b: free from any valid legal objection: valid and effective at law having perfect title to the property compare im …   Law dictionary

  • Perfect 10 — was a quarterly men s magazine featuring high resolution photographs of topless or nude women who have not had cosmetic surgery and focused in particular on slender models with piercing eyes and medium to large, youthful breasts in pensive or… …   Wikipedia

  • perfect — PERFÉCT, Ă, perfecţi, te, adj., s.n. I. adj. 1. Care întruneşte în gradul cel mai înalt toate calităţile cerute; desăvârşit. ♢ Gaz perfect = gaz ale cărui molecule, de dimensiuni neglijabile faţă de distanţele dintre ele, nu exercită forţe de… …   Dicționar Român

  • Perfect — Per fect, a. [OE. parfit, OF. parfit, parfet, parfait, F. parfait, L. perfectus, p. p. of perficere to carry to the end, to perform, finish, perfect; per (see {Per }) + facere to make, do. See {Fact}.] 1. Brought to consummation or completeness;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • perfect — [pʉr′fikt; ] for v. [ pər fekt′] adj. [ME perfit < OFr parfit < L perfectus, pp. of perficere, to finish < per , through (see PER ) + facere, to make, DO1: mod. sp. is Latinized] 1. complete in all respects; without defect or omission;… …   English World dictionary

  • perfect — 1. In its primary meaning ‘complete, not deficient’, perfect is an absolute and cannot logically be qualified by words such as more, most, and very. (This is a philosophical point, not a matter of grammatical correctness.) As the OED notes,… …   Modern English usage

  • Perfect — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Perfect puede referirse a: Música Perfect (canción de Fairground Attraction) (1988) Perfect (canción de The Smashing Pumpkins) (1998) Perfect (canción de Simple Plan) (2003) Perfect (canción de Depeche Mode) (2009)… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Perfect Me — Пёрфект Ми Основная информация Жанр трип хоп …   Википедия

  • perfect — or perfected Complete; finished; executed; enforceable; without defect; merchantable; marketable. Brought to a state of perfection. As to perfect equity perfect obligation perfect ownership perfect title perfect usufruct, see those titles… …   Black's law dictionary

  • Perfect — Per fect, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Perfected}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Perfecting}.] [L. perfectus, p. p. of perficere. See {Perfect}, a.] To make perfect; to finish or complete, so as to leave nothing wanting; to give to anything all that is requisite to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”