| 释义 |
▪ I. perfect, a. (adv., n.)|ˈpɜːfɪkt|
Forms: see below.
[Orig. ME. parfīt, -fite, a. OF. parfit, -fite (11th c. in Littré):—L. perfect-um, pa. pple. of perficĕre to accomplish, perform, complete, f. per- 2 + facĕre to do, make. Subsequently influenced by OF. parfet, -fete, -feit, -fait, in which the radical part is fet, fait (pa. pple. of faire):—L. factum. At length gradually conformed (partly through parfaict, perfaict, perfect) to the L. original perfectus. The change of par- to per- went on from 14th to 16th c. In ME. and 16th c. the stress varied between perˈfite and ˈperfit; in Scotch (pərˈfəit) is still prevalent in some senses, and in others displaced by |ˈpɛrfɪt|.]
A. Illustration of Forms.
1. (α) 3–4 parfijt, 4–5 -fiȝt, 5 -fyght, 5–6 -fight. (β) 4–5 perfiȝt, 5–6 -fyght, 6 -fight, 7 -fyit.
αc1290S. Eng. Leg. I. 58/160 Ȝif þou wolt parfijt beo, sul al þi guod. 1382Wyclif 1 John ii. 5 Forsothe who kepith his word, verily in him is parfijt charite. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 363 Þat parfiȝt welþe þat is nouȝt in worldly richesse. 1477Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 17 Withoute witte he may not be parfight in science. 1485Caxton Chas. Gt. 22 For pees and parfyght vnyon. 1556J. Heywood Spider & F. lxxxv. 6 Our parfight sight from blindnesse standeth..in aduersite.
β1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) V. 185 He hadde perfiȝt knowleche of sevene artis. a1529Skelton Prayer to Father 4 Of all perfections the essencial most perfyght! 1556J. Heywood Spider & F. xviii. 4 Both partes apeere of so pure perfight skill. 1650Presbytery Bk. Strathbogie (1843) 137 For the making vp of a perfyit manse and gleib.
2. (α) 3–5 parfite, 4–6 -fyte. (β) 4– perfite, -fyte.
αa1300Parfite [see B. 3]. c1375Sc. Leg. Saints i. (Petrus) 256 For thefis amang þame pece parfyte vill have. c1450tr. De Imitatione i. iv. 6 Þe parfite bileueþ not lightly all þinges þat men telliþ. a1533Ld. Berners Huon lxxxviii. 278 Suche as he had parfyte trust in.
βc1340Perfite [see B. 3 a]. 1432–50tr. Higden (Rolls) V. 185 Perfite knowlege of the vij sciences liberalle. 1500–20Dunbar Poems xlvii. 14 To wryte Quhat plesans is in lufe perfyte. a1568R. Ascham Scholem. i. (Arb.) 40 A separate and perfite note. 1611Sir W. Mure Misc. Poems i. 34 Once taist yat nectared delyte, Of all pleasoures y⊇ most perfyte. a1699J. Kirkton Hist. Ch. Scot. (1817) 301 Making the island happy by a perfyte union. [1808–25Jamieson, Perfit, Perfite... The term is still used to denote one who is exact in doing any work, or who does it neatly. The accent is on the last syllable. 1851W. Anderson Rhymes (1867) 34 (E.D.D.) There's few sae perfite as we should be.]
3. (α) 3– 6 parfit, 4–6 -fyt, (6 -fytte). (β) 4–7 (dial. –9) perfit, (6 -fitt, -fytt), 5–7 perfyt.
a1300Cursor M. 12483 (Cott.) Maister es he self parfit [v. rr. parfite, -fitt, perfite]. 13..Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS. 573 Parfyt love is ther non. c1430Lydg. Min. Poems (Percy Soc.) 48 Pore in spirit, parfit in pacyence. 1450–1530Myrr. our Ladye 310 God..made them parfyt in kynde on the Saterday. 1555Harpsfield in Bonner's Homilies 4 Her he made parfytte. 1560Whitehorne Ord. Souldiours (1588) 45 b, If you will make it parfiter.
βc1374Chaucer Boeth. iii. pr. ii. 51 (Camb. MS.) Blysfulnesse is a perfyt [v.r. perfit] estat. 1559Bp. Scot in Strype Ann. Ref. (1824) I. App. x. 444 The fawters therof contende, that it is most perfitt. 1603–32Florio Montaigne i. xl. (ed. 3) 132 Sound, and in perfit health. [But Florio 1598–1611, Cotgr. 1611 spell perfect.] 1610J. Melvill Autobiog. (Wodrow Soc.) 259 The King efter his perfyt age of twentie and a yeirs. 1628Sir R. Le Grys tr. Barclay's Argenis 222 That excellent old mans perfitest remission. 1645J. Dury [Scotchman] Israel's Call 31 Perfit holines. [1808–25Perfit: see A. 2 β.]
4. (α) 5–7 parfet, (6 -fett, -fayt(e). (β) 6 perfait, -fayt, 6–7 perfet, (6 -fett).
α1419Sir W. Bardolph in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. ii. I. 76 God..ȝeve ȝow ryght goode lyf and longe parfet helthe of body. 1530Palsgr. 780, I weare heare nexte my bodye as parfayte folkes do. 1668Lady Lyttelton in Hatton Corr. (Camden) 54, I am infinitely reioyced to heare..of her parfet recovery.
β1526Tindale 2 Cor. xii. 9 My strengthe is made perfait throu weaknes. 1536R. Beerley in Four C. Eng. Lett. (1880) 34 An yf yt were never so perfett. 1538Starkey England i. ii. 62 Euery thyng..more perfayt in hys nature. 1593Queen Elizabeth tr. Boeth. v. pr. v. 115 With a steddyer & perfeter Judgement. 1667Milton P.L. viii. 415 Supream of things Thou in thy self art perfet, and in thee Is no deficience found. [The words perfect and imperfect occur 34 times in Milton's Poems, and in 22 instances the spelling is perfet, imperfet (A. J. Wyatt Note to P.R. iv. 468).]
5. (α) 6 parfecte, -faict. (β) 6 perfecte, perfaict(e, 6– perfect.
α1552–3Inv. Ch. Goods Staffs. in Ann. Lichfield IV. 46 A juste true and a parfecte survey. 1593Queen Elizabeth Boeth. i. pr. i. 3 Parfaict for fine workmanship.
β1526Tindale Matt. v. 48 Ye shall therfore be perfecte, even as youre hevenly father is perfecte. [So 1535 Coverd.] ― Luke i. 3 Booth were perfect before God. ― Acts xi. 24 He was a perfaicte man.1530Palsgr. 320 Parfyte..Perfecte (Fr.) perfect..parfect. 1551T. Wilson Logike (1580) 44 b, The perfect ende of all. [Perfect became the usual spelling c 1590.]
B. Signification.
I. General senses.
†1. Thoroughly made, formed, done, perfomed, carried out, accomplished. Obs.
a. Of a legal act: Duly completed.
c1330R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 254 To þat ilk scrite Edward set his seale, Þat his gift was perfite, & with witnes leale. 1567Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1597) §1 The acceptation of the said office of Regentrie..sall be halden, repute, and esteemed lawfull, sufficient, and perfite.
b. Of offspring: Fully formed.
Passing into sense 3: see esp. 3 c.
1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 197 Somtyme a womman conceyueth twey children and is but a litel tyme bytwene; and so þe children ben afterward i-bore oon after oþer, and beeþ perfit i-now. c1400Mandeville (1839) v. 48 And the first Day next after men fynden in the askes a worm; and the secunde day next after men fynden a brid quyk and perfyt. 1538Elyot Dict., Abortio..to brynge forthe a chylde, or it be perfecte [Cooper perfite].
c. Of full age; either = grown up, adult, or of an age legally competent for a specified function.
1382Wyclif 2 Macc. v. 24 Comaundynge to hym for to slea alle of perfit age. 1547J. Harrison Exhort. Scottes A vj b, He shal at his perfect yeres bee restaured to the whole isle of Britayn. 1565Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 358 Thai may entir within thre termis nixt eftir thair perfyte age of xiiii yeris. 1605Shakes. Lear i. ii. 77 Sonnes at perfect age, and Fathers declin'd. 1773Ld. Monboddo Lang. (1774) I. i. i. 11 When he comes to be of perfect age.
2. a. Fully accomplished; thoroughly versed, trained, skilled, or conversant. Const. in, with, † of a subject. arch.
a1300Cursor M. 12483 Þou broght me not a barn to lere Bot maister es he self parfit. 1387Trevisa Higden (Rolls) III. 219 Among alle he [Plato] is i-preysed for a parfite techere of philosofie. Ibid. VII. 71 By craft of þe sterres, in þe whiche craft he was perfit inow. 1450–80tr. Secreta Secret. 21 He that is a parfit studiaunt in that science. c1510More Picus Wks. 3/1 [He] was in dede, both a parfet philosophre, and a parfet diuine. 1578T. N. tr. Conq. W. India 212 They were very perfite with theyr bowes. 1592Greene Disput. 20 The Hawke that is most perfect for the flight. 1597Shakes. 2 Hen. IV, iv. i. 155 Our Men more perfect in the vse of Armes. 1606Holland Sueton. 48 He deemed nothing lesse beseeming a perfit and accomplished Captaine, than hast-making and rashnesse. 1669Gale Crt. Gentiles i. ii. ix. 137 They..were admitted to the state of, τελείων, the perfect, and so made partakers of al Mysteries. 1831Sir W. Hamilton Discuss. (1853) 406 The Master, Doctor, or perfect graduate, was, in like manner..obliged immediately to commence..and to continue for a certain period publicly to teach. 1838Whewell in Life (1881) 192 The other persons..not being very perfect in their duties.
†b. Completely prepared; made ready. Obs.
1382Wyclif 1 Kings vi. 7 Forsothe the hows..is beeldid of stonus ouer scorchid and parfite. 1568Bible (Bishops') ibid., The house..was built of stone perfite before it was brought.
c. Thoroughly learned or acquired, got by heart or by rote, ‘at one's fingers' ends’. Also of a person: Having learnt one's lesson or part thoroughly. (Cf. letter-perfect, word-perfect.)
1581Mulcaster Positions v, That the learning to write be not left of, vntil it be verie perfit. 1588Shakes. L.L.L. v. ii. 562, I hope I was perfect. I made a little fault in great. [Cf. lines 553–4.] 1592― Ven. & Ad. 408 The lesson is but plain, And once made perfect, never lost again. 1603― Meas. for M. v. i. 82 When you haue A businesse for your selfe: pray heauen you then Be perfect. 1665Pepys Diary 21 Sept., To refresh myself in my musique scale, which I would fain have perfecter than ever I had yet. 1844Alb. Smith Adv. Mr. Ledbury (1847) II. ii. 174 Mrs. Grimley kindly undertook to prompt, as the performers were not all very perfect. Mod. (School). Try to get this lesson perfect.
3. a. In the state proper to anything when completed; complete; having all the essential elements, qualities, or characteristics; not deficient in any particular.
a1300Cursor M. 11626 (Cott.) Ne haf yee for me na barnsite, For i am self man al parfite. a1325Athanasian Creed 30 in Prose Psalter 195 He is parfit God, parfit man, beand of resonable soule & of mannes flesshe. 1548–9(Mar.) Ibid. in Bk. Com. Prayer, Perfecte God, and perfecte man. 1571Articles of Religion ii, Two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and manhood.
b. Of actions, states, qualities, and the like.
c1340Hampole Prose Tr. iii. 7, I had..na perfite contrycyone. 1382Wyclif 1 John iv. 18 Drede is not in charite, but parfijt charite sendith out drede [1526 Tindale, Parfet love casteth out all feare]. c1386Chaucer Prol. 338 He..heeld opinion that pleyn delit Was verray felicitee parfit. c1475Partenay 3994 She allwais loued me with hert parfight. 1548–9(Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Communion, Who made..a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifyce, oblacion, and satysfaccyon, for the sinnes of the whole worlde. 1748Anson's Voy. iii. i. 301 It had been a perfect calm for some days. 1841Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life (1870) III. viii. 124 That Mr. Newman is a man of..perfect sincerity, I have no doubt. 1869Tyndall Notes Lect. Light §11 There is no such thing as perfect transparency or perfect opacity.
c. Of productions material or immaterial. (1 b may belong here.)
1413Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton 1483) v. xiv. 107 Ther is no body parfit withouten thre dymensions. 1526Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 1 Lyke as the great worlde was made perfecte in vij dayes. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. i. 26 Three glorious Sunnes, each one a perfect Sunne. 1628T. Spencer Logick 276 Aristotle is of opinion, that this onely is the forme or figure of a perfit Syllogisme. 1665Pepys Diary 22 Sept., He did twelve feet under ground find perfect trees over-covered with earth. 1697tr. Burgersdicius' Logic i. xxiv. 98 Speech is either perfect or imperfect. Perfect is that that absolves the Sentence. 1872J. F. Clarke Self-Culture xvi. (1889) 349 Nature finishes everything... Every little flower is perfect and complete, from root to seed.
†d. Sound; of sound mind, sane. Obs.
1470–85Malory Arthur xvii. v. 695 Whanne he sawe the letters and vnderstood them, yet he entryd, for he was ryghte parfyte of his lyf. 1552Huloet, Perfecte or sounde, integer. 1605Shakes. Lear iv. vii. 63, I feare I am not in my perfect mind. a1619Fletcher Mad Lover i. ii, What postures he puts on! I do not think he's perfect.
4. a. In the state of complete excellence; free from any flaw or imperfection of quality; faultless. But often used of a near approach to such a state, and hence capable of comparison, perfecter (= more nearly perfect), perfectest (= nearest to perfection).
a1340Hampole Psalter x. 2 Þaim thynke þat þaire vndirstandynge and þaire conuersacioun is perfitere þan oþer. c1380Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 449 To teche a perfitere weie to hevene þan evere Crist dide himself. 1529More Dyaloge i. Wks. 129/2 Than had our lord not made hys order and course perfite in the begynnynge. 1542Boorde Dyetary ix. (1870) 251 Abstynence for this matter is..the parfytest medysone. 1565Satir. Poems Reform. i. 80 My pen is not in perfytt plight her graces to displaie. 1590R. Payne Descr. Irel. (1841) 3 Most of them speaking good and perfit English. 1685Temple Ess. Gard. Wks. 1731 I. 185 The perfectest Figure of a Garden I ever saw..was that of Moor-Park in Hertfordshire. 1784Johnson Let. to Sastres 20 Oct., A perfect performance of any kind is not to be expected, and certainly not a perfect dictionary. 1841L. Hunt Seer ii. (1864) 64 The perfectest prose-fiction in the language. 1853J. H. Newman Hist. Sk. (1873) II. iv. viii. 197 The barbarian, in his own estimate, is perfect already; and what is perfect cannot be improved. 1877Morley Crit. Misc. Ser. ii. 391 The only people whom men cannot pardon are the perfect.
b. spec. Of supreme moral excellence; righteous, holy; immaculate.
c1290[see A. 1]. 1340Hampole Pr. Consc. 3766 For sum þat semes gude here and parfite,..after þe dede, er dampned als-tite. 1388Wyclif Matt. v. 48 Be ȝe parfit, as ȝoure heuenli fadir is parfit. 1450–1530Myrr. our Ladye 76 None maye wythstonde eny temptacyon be he neuer so parfyt, wythout specyall helpe, and grace of god. 1526[see A. 5 β]. 1611Bible Ps. xxxvii. 37 Marke the perfect man, and behold the vpright: for the end of that man is peace. 1743Wesley Serm. Chr. Perfect., Every one that is perfect is holy: and every one that is holy is, in the Scripture sense, perfect.
c. Of things: Marked by moral perfection.
1535Coverdale Ps. xviii. 30 The waye of God is a perfecte waye. Ibid. xix. 7 The lawe of the Lorde is a perfecte lawe. 1738Wesley Ps. cxxxix. xiv, Guide me in thy perfect way.
d. a perfect day (colloq.), a day of which every part has been enjoyable; esp. in phr. the end of a perfect day.
1910C. Jacobs-Bond Perfect Day (song) 6 For mem'ry has painted this perfect day With colors that never fade, And we find at the end of a perfect day The soul of a friend we've made. 1923Liverpool Echo 13 Sept. 6/3 (heading) The boy and the balloon. The sad end of a perfect day. 1976S. Kaufman Master & Other Stories (1977) 193 Nothing crossed her mind as she floated, a thing made of air, and dreamily listened to the carrying voices from shore, except the one thought: What a perfect day.
5. Completely corresponding to a definition, pattern, or description.
a. Of a geometrical figure, a point of space or time, and the like: Exact, precise.
c1391Chaucer Astrol. i. §18 Som of hem semen perfit cercles, & somme semen inperfit. 1574Bourne Regiment for Sea xvii. (1577) 46 The perfit houre and minute of the chaunges of the Moone. 1701Norris Ideal World i. ii. 53 Other figures therefore I do see, and those perfect ones. 1823H. J. Brooke Introd. Crystallogr. 62 It is capable of being reduced again to the perfect octahedron. 1860Tyndall Glac. i. x. 65 Heavy hail had fallen,..the stones being perfect spheres.
b. Of a copy, representation, etc.: Accurately reproducing or reflecting the original; exact, correct. † Of a notion, thought, etc.: Exactly corresponding to the facts, correct (obs.).
1540–1Elyot Image Gov. 2 In this boke was expressed of gouernaunce so perfyte an image. 1592T. Digges (title) A Perfit Description of the Cœlestiall Orbes. 1595Shakes. John v. vi. 6 Hub. Whose there? Speake hoa... Bast. Hubert, I thinke. Hub. Thou hast a perfect thought. 1611Bible Transl. Pref. 4 That Translation was not so sound and so perfect, but that it needed in many places correction. 1790Paley Horæ Paul. i. 6 A more perfect copy procured at Aleppo. 1867Howells Ital. Journ. 299 The perfectest reproduction of the Greek theater in the world.
c. Fully answering to what the name implies. Also in phrases perfect gentleman, perfect lady.
c1449Pecock Repr. ii. xv. 233 Samaritanys..weren not perfite and ful Iewis neither thei were perfite and ful hethen. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. IV 10 b, Made hym as he surely coniectured his perfite frende, where in dede he was inwardly his dedly enemie. a1613Overbury A Wife, etc. (1638) 286 The Devil is the perfectest Courtier. 1807Wordsworth Poems I. 15 A perfect woman; nobly plann'd, To warn, to comfort, and command. 1818Byron Beppo xxxii. 17 In short, he was a perfect cavaliero, And to his very valet seem'd a hero. 1833Keble Serm. vi. (1848) 142 That combination of sweetness with firmness..which constitutes the temper of a perfect public man. 1834G. Crabbe Jun. in Poet. Wks. G. Crabbe I. vi. 147 Miss Waldron..could sing a jovial song like a fox-hunter,..and yet there was such an air of high ton, and such intellect mingled with these manners, that the perfect lady was not veiled for a moment. 1856C. M. Yonge Daisy Chain i. xxiii. 245 Her instinct showed her that she was talking to a man of high ability. A perfect gentleman she saw him to be. 1872Geo. Eliot Middlem. I. ii. xvi. 299 Rosamond..was active..in being from morning till night her own standard of a perfect lady. 1903G. B. Shaw Revolutionist's Handbk. i, in Man & Superman 182 This..is a great advance on the popular demand for a perfect gentleman and a perfect lady. 1949E. Coxhead Wind in West i. 25 You'll like the Fletchers—Hermia is a wonder, the perfect wife. 1967A. Wilson No Laughing Matter iii. 320 All perfect ladies..eat messily, don't they? 1972J. Porter Meddler & her Murder iv. 49, I never knew old Adam was a womanizer! Must say, he's always behaved like a perfect gentleman with me. 1978H. MacInnes Prelude to Terror iv. 34 The perfect hostess..a woman putting a guest at ease with food and drink.
d. Entire, unqualified; pure, unmixed, unalloyed.
1590Shakes. Mids. N. i. ii. 98 Either your straw-colour beard, your orange tawnie beard,..your perfect yellow. 1591― Two Gent. iv. iv. 194. 1595 ― John i. i. 90 Mine eye hath well examined his parts, And findes them perfect Richard. 1600J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa ii. 71 The walles, the towers, and the gates built all of perfect marble. 1648in Bury Wills (Camden) 217 My damaske sword, with the handle of perfect gold. 1699Vanbrugh False Friend ii. i, You talk..like a perfect stranger to that tenderness methinks every son should feel for a good father. 1878Huxley Physiogr. 6 To a perfect stranger..such a method of description would be unintelligible.
e. Mere, sheer; unmitigated, utter. (Qualifying something bad, repulsive, or disliked.) Chiefly colloq. or dial.
1611Shakes. Temp. i. i. 32 His complexion is perfect Gallowes. 1714Addison Lover No. 39 ⁋2 He..has..reduced himself to a perfect skeleton. 1748Anson's Voy. i. viii. 79 The storm..proved a perfect hurricane. 1792A. Wilson Watty & Meg in Poems & Lit. Prose (1876) II. 5 She's tired wi' perfect skelping. 1801Macneill Poet. Wks. (1856) 139 (E.D.D.) Worn to perfect skin and bane. 1804–6Syd. Smith Mor. Philos. (1850) 187 A man whose chin terminated in a point..would be a perfect horror. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xxiv, The queen tore her biggonets for perfect anger. 1861Quinn Heather (1863) 156 Gar a thief forget himsel', An' blush for perfect shame. Mod. colloq. It is perfect nonsense to say that he cannot.
f. Complete, utter (referring to a person in neutral or favourable contexts).
1903G. B. Shaw Man & Superman i. 40 You seem to understand all the things I dont understand; but you are a perfect baby in the things I do understand. 1919T. K. Holmes Man from Tall Timber xxiv. 292 That Anabelle Whitman is a perfect scream. 1927C. Connolly Let. 27 Jan. in Romantic Friendship (1975) 231 Thou art heavenly he a ‘perfect scream’. 1931T. E. Lawrence Lett. (1938) 713 The Coroner was a perfect pet. 1959Listener 4 June 998/2 He [sc. Harry Secombe] is indeed a Perfect Scream in both senses of that noun. 1961Parks & Leighton My Thirty Years backstairs at White House xiii. 190 Rob Roy was a perfect angel with the First Family.
†6. Completely assured, fully informed, certain: of a statement or speaker. Obs. rare.
1568Grafton Chron. II. 700 He had perfect worde that the Duke of Clarance came forwarde towarde him with a great armie. 1611Shakes. Wint. T. iii. iii. 1 Thou art perfect then, our ship hath toucht vpon The Desarts of Bohemia. 1611― Cymb. iii. i. 73, I am perfect, That the Pannonians..for Their Liberties are now in Armes.
†7. In a state of complete satisfaction; satisfied, contented. Obs. rare.
1605Shakes. Macb. iii. iv. 21 Then comes my Fit againe: I had else beene perfect. 1607― Timon i. ii. 90 Might we but haue that happinesse my Lord..we should thinke our selues for euer perfect.
II. Technical senses.
8. Arith. Applied to a number which is equal to the sum of its aliquot parts. (Formerly in other senses: see quots. 1422, c 1440.)
1422tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 214 Do thou that they bene ten, fore tene is a perfite nombyr, and hit contenyth in hym-sylfe foure nombres, that is to witte, one and two, and thre and foure. c1440York Myst. xliv. 9 We are leued a-lyue, elleuyn,..Or we begynne vs muste be even,..For parfite noumbre it is none, Off elleuen for to lere. 1570Billingsley Euclid vii. def. xxiii. 187 The partes of 6 are 1. 2. 3,..and mo partes 6 hath not:..wherefore 6 is a perfect number. So likewise is 28 a perfect number... This kinde of numbers is very rare. 1674S. Jeake Arith. (1696) 5 Perfect Numbers are almost as rare as perfect Men. 1709–29V. Mandey Syst. Math., Arith. 5 There are found but few Perfect Numbers..to wit, from 1 to 40,000000, only these: 6, 28, 496, 8128, 130816, 2096128, 33,550336;..all the Perfect Numbers begin by turns from 6 and 8. 1795Hutton Math. Dict. s.v. 1901Ann. Math. II. 103 By a perfect number is meant a number which is equal to the sum of those of its divisors which are less than the number. Thus 6 = 1 + 2 + 3 is a perfect number. Ibid. 104 His [sc. Sylvester's] proof of the non-existence of odd perfect numbers. 1958R. V. Andree Sel. Mod. Abstr. Algebra i. 30 The first four perfect numbers were discovered by the end of the first century. By 1870, only four more had been found. Between 1870 and 1950, four additional even perfect numbers were discovered... Since then, five more perfect numbers have been found. 1971Sci. Amer. June 56/2 Whether or not there are any odd perfect numbers is still undecided.
9. Gram.
†a. Of verbs: Regular. Obs.
b. Applied to the tense which denotes a completed event or action viewed in relation to the present; hence (with qualification) to any tense expressing action completed at the time indicated: see pluperfect, future perfect (future a. 2).
1530Palsgr. Introd. 30 Verbes parsonall be of thre sortes, parfyte, anomales, and defectyves. Ibid. 84 The preterperfit tens, as je ay parlé I have spoken. Ibid. 88 The preter parfit tens. 1581E. Campion in Confer. ii. (1584) N iv b, I pray you what tempus is it? Campion. The perfect tempus, euen as clausis the Latine worde is. 1727–41Chambers Cycl., Perfect, in grammar. Preter or preterit⁓perfect tense, is an inflection, marking a time perfectly past. 1879Bain Higher Eng. Gram. 166 The infinitive followed by a past participle forms a perfect infinitive active: ‘to have loved’, ‘having loved’.
10. Mus. (Opp. to imperfect a. 7.)
† a. In mediæval music, applied to a note when reckoned as three times the length of a note of the next lower denomination; and hence to those ‘modes’, etc. characterized by such relative value of the notes (answering to what is now called triple time or rhythm). Obs. b. perfect concords († perfect cords) or perfect consonances: a name including the concords of a unison, fifth, and octave, and sometimes a fourth (as distinguished from the thirds and sixths). Hence c. Applied to the intervals of a fourth, fifth, and octave, in their normal form (opp. to augmented and diminished): now sometimes (like thirds, sixths, etc.) called major. So perfect chord or perfect triad, a name for the common chord in its direct position (involving a perfect fifth), as opp. to the imperfect or diminished triad. d. perfect cadence: a cadence consisting of the direct chord of the tonic preceded by a dominant or subdominant chord (authentic or plagal cadence), and forming a full close: opp. to imperfect and interrupted cadence.
1597Morley Introd. Mus. 18 The Moode perfect of the lesse prolation is, when all go by two, except the Semibreefe: as two Longes to the Large:..three Semibreeues to the Breefe. Ibid., The moode perfect of the more is, when all go by three; as three Longes to the Large: three Breeues to the Longe [etc.]. Ibid. 72 You must not rise nor fall with two perfect cordes togither. Ibid. Annot., Why some of those consonants [= consonances]..are called perfect, and othersome vnperfect, I can giue..no reason. 1667Perfect Concords [see imperfect a. 7]. 1704J. Harris Lex. Techn. I, Perfect Fifth, the same with Diapente. 1727–41Chambers Cycl., Perfect, in music, denotes something that fills, and satisfies the mind, and the ear.—In which sense we say, perfect cadence, perfect concord, &c. 1875Ouseley Harmony xiii. 154 The perfect cadence corresponds exactly to a full stop in writing. 1880W. S. Rockstro in Grove Dict. Mus. I. 766 Mode, Time, and Prolation were themselves capable of assuming a Perfect or an Imperfect form... Notes, even when Perfect by virtue of the Mode, Time, or Prolation in which they were written, could be made Imperfect.
e. perfect pitch, the ability to judge pitch absolutely, and hence recognize the pitch of any individual note. (Cf. absolute pitch (b) s.v. absolute a. 16.)
1949F. Towers Tea with Mr. Rochester 19 She is very musical, and has perfect pitch. 1958Gramophone Oct. 17 Listeners with perfect pitch are warned that, this being the Schnitger organ at Cappel, all the works here sound a semitone higher than usual. 1971Nature 2 Apr. 337/1 Few people possess ‘perfect pitch’ and it is not known whether it is learned or inherited. 1975Sunday Times (Colour Suppl.) 13 July 47/4 Although he does not sight read he has perfect pitch. 1976Gramophone Aug. 318/3 Listeners with perfect pitch should be warned that the present issue sounds a semitone lower than normal.
11. a. Physiol., Anat., etc. Having its proper characteristics developed to the fullest degree; typical.
1693tr. Blancard's Phys. Dict. (ed. 2) s.v. Perfecta Crisis, One Crisis is called perfect, another imperfect;..perfect is that which frees the Patient perfectly and entirely from the Distemper; and it is either salutary or deadly. 1805Med. Jrnl. XIV. 84 Inoculated cow pock, under its most perfect form. 1830R. Knox Béclard's Anat. 244 Perfect cartilages also occur under the form of incrustation or plates. 1841–71T. R. Jones Anim. Kingd. (ed. 4) 721 Most of the parts enumerated as entering into the composition of a perfect or typical skeleton. 1856Grindon Life xxv. (1875) 322 ‘Perfect’ is used by the naturalist to express the degree in which those peculiarities are developed which characterize a particular group. 1863Chambers' Encycl. V. 589/2 The mouths of mandibulate Insects are sometimes called perfect, and those which exhibit a different character, imperfect.
†b. (See quot.) Obs.
1727–41Chambers Cycl., Perfect, in physiology. A perfect animal is used by some writers for that which is born by univocal generation; in opposition to insects, which they pretend to be produced by equivocal generation.
12. Bot. Having all four whorls of the flower (calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistils).
1706Phillips, Perfect flowers (among Herbalists) are those that have the finely colour'd small leaves, call'd Petala, with the Stamina, Apices, and Stylus. 1727–41Chambers Cycl. s.v., Perfect flowers are such as have petala, pistil, stamina, and apices. 1861Bentley Man. Bot. 557 Combretaceæ... Leaves exstipulate, entire, without dots. Flowers perfect or unisexual.
13. Ent. In the most completely or finally developed form or phase of existence, as perfect insect, perfect state, etc.
1834Encycl. Brit. (ed. 7) IX. 86/2 Mouffet..mistook the aquatic larvæ of Libellulæ for creatures entirely distinct from the perfect insects. Ibid. 87/2 The imago or perfect condition. 1863Chambers's Encycl. V. 591/1 The intermediate or pupa state often differs little..from the perfect state.
14. Physics. Conceived as existing in a state of ideal perfection, as perfect elasticity, perfect gas.
1849Thomson in Trans. R. Soc. Edin. XVI. 545 A perfect thermodynamic engine..is a machine by means of which the greatest possible amount of mechanical effect can be obtained from a given thermal agency. 1850Rankine Ibid. XX. 148 The elasticity of a perfect gas at a given temperature varies simply in proportion to its density. 1867Thomson & Tait Nat. Phil. I. 514 That property of perfect elasticity towards which highly elastic bodies in nature approximate. Ibid. 592 A perfect fluid..is an unrealizable conception, like a rigid, or a smooth, body: it is defined as a body incapable of resisting a change of shape. 1867Besant Hydrodynamics (ed. 2) 1 A perfect fluid is assumed to have no ‘viscosity’, no property of the nature of friction.
15. Printing. perfect ream, a ream of 516 sheets, = printer's ream: see ream n.3 Also applied to sheets that have been printed on both sides.
1841W. Savage Dict. Art of Printing 701 The reader, in revising the second form, then sees the sheet perfect, which is necessary to ascertain that the matter follows. 1888Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 98 Reams of paper made up to a printer's ream, i.e. 516 sheets, are said to be ‘perfect’. 1960G. A. Glaister Gloss. Bk. 303/2 In edition binding the printed sheets are said to be perfect as soon as some or all of the sheets (and plates) have been printed.
16. Bot. Applied to the stage in the life cycle of a fungus at which sexual spores are produced, and to a fungus in that state.
1891G. Massee Brit. Fungi 32 The incomplete form is considered as belonging to the same genus as the perfect form. 1909Mycologia I. 115 A single boll [of cotton]..was examined in the laboratory and found to be covered with the perfect stage of the Colletotrichum. 1945G. R. Bisby Introd. Taxon. & Nomencl. Fungi xvi. 87 The perfect state is that which ends in the ascus stage in the Ascomycetes, in the basidium in the Basidiomycetes, in the teleutospore or its equivalent in the Uredinales, and in the spore in the Ustilaginales. 1950E. A. Bessey Morphol. & Taxon. Fungi i. 18 In fungi with several stages of development to which different names have been given, the species epithet that is to be retained is the one applied to the ‘perfect’ stage of the fungus. 1967M. E. Hale Biol. Lichens iii. 45 The parasymbiont Abrothallus suecicus is the perfect stage of the imperfect fungus Phoma. 1971[see imperfect a. 8 b].
17. Applied to a form of bookbinding in which the single leaves of a book are attached individually to the spine by an adhesive, instead of the printed sheets being folded and sewn.
1893Amer. Bookbinder July 86 (heading) Perfect library binding. Ibid., Mr. Crawford is the inventor of what is known as the ‘perfect library binding’. 1910G. A. Stephen Commerc. Bookbinding 9/2 A revolution in the method of binding monthly magazines was inaugurated by the invention of the Sheridan ‘Perfect Binder’. 1926Amazing Stories July 359/1 We..took immediate ways and means to do away with the old-fashioned binding, and you now hold in your hand a magazine bound with the so-called ‘Perfect’ binding. 1956H. Williamson Methods Bk. Design xix. 332 Sewing, rounding, backing, and lining can all be dispensed with in the unsewn or ‘perfect’ methods of binding. 1960Times Lit. Suppl. 3 June 360/3 The so-called ‘perfect’ binding, in which, the backs of the quires having been guillotined away, the resultant single leaves are held hopefully together by adhesive. 1977Ibid. 28 Jan. 104/2 The pages are now smaller, the paper thinner,..and the binding is perfect (ie, imperfect). 1977Special Libraries Feb. 6A/2 Perfect bound (‘newspeak’ for ‘unsewn’) bindings on books have caused librarians grief and libraries money (for rebinding) since they fall apart so readily... I urge publishers not to utilize this type of binding until they have really perfected the process.
18. Econ. Designating (notional or actual) ideal market conditions in which adverse factors are removed; perfect competition, competition in which all elements of monopoly are absent and the market price of a commodity is beyond the control of individual buyers and sellers.
1897Q. Jrnl. Econ. XII. 125 In passing from the study of perfect monopoly to that of perfect competition, Cournot considers also the intermediate case of a few, say two, competitors. 1906Ibid. XX. 211 Perfect competition is the fundamental hypothesis of economics in the sense that perfect competition is postulated in nearly every argument as to economic equilibrium. 1922H. A. Silverman Substance Econ. vi. 72 Perfect competition..is not usually realized in practice. 1939Lyness & Emmet Introd. Econ. iv. 38 The characteristics of a perfect market are, firstly, full information... Secondly, complete accessibility... Thirdly, full freedom of choice. 1944A. Cairncross Introd. Econ. xiv. 180 The first requirement of perfect competition..is that the market..should be perfect; a perfect market being one in which buyers have no preferences as between the different units of the commodity offered for sale, sellers are quite indifferent to whom they sell, and both buyers and sellers have full knowledge of prices in other parts of the market. 1969D. C. Hague Managerial Econ. iii. 59 There is an established market where all buyers and sellers can keep in close touch with each other, and have become used to doing so. Economists sometimes say that there is then a perfect market. 1971I. Deutscher Marxism in our Time (1972) xii. 259 Even when, for the sake of argument, he [sc. Marx] assumed perfect competition, he did it only in order to prove that that competition was necessarily self-destructive. 1974M. B. Brown Econ. of Imperialism ii. 30 The classical vision of an economy where there is perfect competition reaches its apogee in the Theory of Free Trade. 1976Economist 16 Oct. 21/2 Foreign exchange markets do not quite match up to the ideal of perfect competition described by theory.
19. Math.
a. Of a set of points: closed, and such that every neighbourhood of each point of the set contains at least one other point of the set.
1906Q. Jrnl. Math. XXXVII. 23 P is a rim point, so that the rim is closed, and, being dense in itself, is perfect. 1926J. E. Littlewood Elem. of Theory of Real Functions (ed. 2) iv. 50 A perfect set is an existent set which is closed and dense-in-itself. 1957J. R. Aumann et al. tr. Hausdorff's Set Theory vi. 133 The null set is everything: isolated, dense-in-itself, closed, perfect. 1970C. A. Rogers Hausdorff Measures ii. 61 A set is perfect if it is closed, non-empty and dense in itself.
b. Of a group: such that the subgroup generated by the set of commutators of the group is the group itself.
1898Amer. Jrnl. Math. XX. 277 Since a perfect group is identical with its derivatives, it cannot be isomorphic to any Abelian group whose order exceeds unity. 1908H. Hilton Introd. Theory Groups of Finite Order x. 134 Every simple group is perfect. 1940D. E. Littlewood Theory of Group Characters x. 174 A group is perfect if it is identical with its commutator subgroup. Hence the condition that a group is perfect is that it possesses no character satisfying χ0 = 1 save that character which is unity for every operation. 1959J. S. Lomont Applications of Finite Groups ii. 2 Let us call a group (of order > 1) perfect if it is identical with its commutator subgroup. Every perfect group is then insolvable.
C. as adv. = perfectly. Obs. exc. dial. or poet.
c1470Golagros & Gaw. 1100 As I am cristynit perfite. a1550in Dunbar's Poems (S.T.S.) 317 In the cuntre he and I Can nocht dwell baith perfyte. 1567Turberv. Piers to T. Epit. etc. 9 b, Men dæmen may you are not perfite wise. 1596Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. i. 61 Thay had the similitude of perfyte schapen foulis. 1682Creech tr. Lucretius (1683) 214 No Compound's perfect solid, free from Pore. 1726–31Tindal Rapin's Hist. Eng. (1743) II. xvii. 102 A perfect honest man. 1830Tennyson Madeline ii, Frowns perfect-sweet along the brow.
D. quasi-n.
1. That which is perfect, perfection. rare, poetic.
1842Tennyson Two Voices 292 That type of Perfect in his mind In Nature can he nowhere find.
2. Gram. Elliptical for perfect tense: see B. 9 b.
1841R. G. Latham Eng. Lang. §180 One of two forms, sometimes..that of the Greek Perfect, and sometimes..that of the Greek Aorist. 1848J. W. Donaldson Grk. Gram. §425 The perfect expresses the state or condition consequent on an action. 1888B. H. Kennedy Shorter Lat. Primer 72 The Perfect in the sense of I have loved is Primary: in the sense of I loved it is Historic.
¶3. perfit, -fet, -fight: an occasional copyist's error for profit (due to confounding the MS. contractions for per- and pro-).
1495Trevisa's Barth. De P.R. iv. ix. (W. de W.), Bothe for nede and for perfyght [L. utilitatem].
4. [tr. med.L. perfectus in the same sense (also used).] Among the Catharist heresy of the Albigenses in the 12th and 13th centuries, one who had received the consolamentum or spiritual baptism, thereby accepting all the precepts of Albigensian doctrine.
1742L. Brown tr. Bossuet's Hist. Variations Protestant Churches II. xi. cxl. 156 In regard of those four thousand Cathari,..none were understood by that name but the perfect of the Sect... When the Sect was weaken'd, tho' there were but four thousand perfect Cathari, yet..the multitude..of simple Believers, was then infinite. 1826in J. C. L. S. de Sismondi Hist. Crusades against Albigenses p. xvii, They were divided into two classes, the perfect and the believers. 1832S. R. Maitland Albigenses & Waldenses x. 271 Those men who assert that they alone are good christians whom the most Holy Roman Church persecuted, and condemns, and calls perfecti, or consolati (more properly desolati) heretics. 1888H. C. Lea Hist. Inquisition Middle Ages I. ii. 84 The Perfects would die rather than violate the precept. Ibid. iii. 103 If the Perfect is exhorted by the God in whom he believes to tell all about his life, he will faithfully detail it without falsehood. 1926A. L. Maycock Inquisition ii. 40 The ‘Perfect’ were forbidden to eat meat, eggs, cheese or anything that was the result of sexual procreation. 1957N. Cohn Pursuit of Millennium (1970) viii. 140 The Catharist perfecti dominated the religious life of a large part of southern France for half a century or more. 1961[see endura]. 1970[see consolamentum]. 1975Times 24 Feb. 15/5 Fox had resembled a Perfectus, with no sense of sin... Penn represents another type of Cathar.
▪ II. perfect, v.|pəˈfɛkt, ˈpɜːfɪkt|
Forms: α. 5–6 parfyte, etc. (see prec.). β. 5 perfyght, 6–7 perfite, -fait, 6– perfect.
[f. perfect a., in its various late ME. and early mod.Eng. forms. Now usually pronounced perˈfect, as if directly f. ppl. stem of L. perficĕre to accomplish, finish, complete.]
1. a. trans. To bring to completion; to complete, finish, consummate; to carry through, accomplish.
1494Fabyan Chron. ii. xxviii. 20 He began the .iiii. hyghe wayes of Bretayne, the whiche were fynysshed and parfyted of Belynus his sone. Ibid. vi. clxiv. 158 Whiche conclusyon perfyghted, Lewys..retornyd into Germany. 1512Helyas in Thoms Prose Rom. (1828) III. 30 After that the false olde woman had parfet and doone their treason. 1529Cromwell in Merriman Life & Lett. (1902) I. 324 All which bokes be not yet..parfyted unto my mynde. 1562Bp. Jewel Apol. Ch. Eng. ii. i. Wks. (Parker Soc.) III. 59 There he..shall sit, till all things be fully perfitted. 1588A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. in Cath. Tractates (S.T.S.) 193 The boilding of the wallis of Ierusalem was perfaitit be Nehemia. 1596Drayton Leg. iii. 347 To perfect my command. 1624Quarles Sion's Elegies iii. 11 Labour perfected, with the evening ends. 1629Sir W. Mure True Crucif. 2088 The Worke of Man's salvation to perfite [rime delite]. 1641Milton Reform. i. (1851) 10 Exact Reformation is not perfited at the first push. 1644― Areop. (Arb.) 39 The Councell of Trent..brought forth, or perfeted those Catalogues. 1725Pope Odyss. ii. 125 Then urg'd, she perfects her illustrious toils. 1875Stubbs Const. Hist. II. xv. 291 This design was perfected in 1295.
b. Printing. To complete the printing of a sheet of a book, etc. by printing the second side.
1824J. Johnson Typogr. II. 661 When one side is printed, it revolves from one cylinder to the other, and is then perfected by the second form. 1888Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 98 Perfect up..the printing of the second side of the paper in half-sheet or sheet work. 1899J. Southward Mod. Printing III. xii. 117 Rotary web machines also perfect the paper..before it is delivered. 1927R. B. McKerrow Introd. Bibliogr. i. ii. 21 It is often evident..that the printer printed the whole number of impressions on one side before starting to perfect. Ibid. iii. i. 261 It is possible that a sheet may be perfected from a wrong forme. 1964F. Bowers Bibliogr. & Textual Criticism iii. i. 71 The specific example of Match Me in London and its sheet that was perfected out of phase. 1972P. Gaskell New Introd. Bibliogr. 132 The sixteenth-century account of Le Roy suggests that the heap was normally printed as white paper in the morning, turned at the midday break, and perfected in the afternoon.
†2. To bring to full development. Obs.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. viii. xvi. (Add. MS. 27944) Þe sonne..ordeyneþ and disposiþ & parfitiþ alle þingis in þis worlde. 1607Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 259 The males are sooner perfited in the womb then the females.
3. To make perfect or faultless; to bring to perfection; loosely: To bring nearer to perfection; to improve.
c1449[see perfecting vbl. n.]. 1567Drant Horace, De Arte Poet. B ij, Those verses reprehende..Correcting, and perfyting them with ouernotynge hande. 1575–85Abp. Sandys Serm. xxii. §12 Perfiting himselfe in Godlinesse. 1630S. Lennard tr. Charron's Wisd. iii. xiv. §22 (1670) 452 Learning marreth weak wits and spirits, perfitteth the strong and natural. a1703Burkitt On N.T. Heb. vii. 12 To perfect sinful man, is to free him from the guilt of sin,..and to make him..capable of communion with God. 1859Thackeray Virgin. vi, George especially perfected his accent so as to be able to pass for a Frenchman. 1875Lyell Princ. Geol. II. iii. xxxvi. 289 When the art of the breeder has been greatly perfected.
4. To make (a person) perfect in some art, etc.; † to instruct or inform completely (obs.).
1603Shakes. Meas. for M. iv. iii. 146 Her cause, and yours Ile perfect him withall. 1610― Temp. i. ii. 79 Being once perfected how to graunt suites, How to deny them. 1628Bp. Hall Old Relig. 154 That which can perfit the teacher, is sufficient for the learner. 1819A. Balfour Campbell I. lii. 23 It will take five or sax years to perfyte him in that language. 1823Galt Entail I. xiii. 96 To send her for three months to Edinburgh; there, and in that time, to learn manners, ‘and be perfited’, as her mother said, ‘wi' a boarding-school education’.
5. intr. To come to perfection or maturity. rare.
1870Morris Earthly Par. iv. Epil. 437 And all those images of love and pain, Wrought as the year did wax, perfect, and wane. |