English
perfection
Perfection comes from Latin perfectiō ‘finishing, completion’, from faciō ‘to make, construct, fashion, frame, build, erect’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰeh₁k-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰh₁kyétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θakjōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fakjō‘to make’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfaciō‘to make, construct, fashion, frame, build, erect’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEperficiō‘to finish, complete’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEperfectiō‘finishing, completion’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400perfection
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500perfeccioun
- Englishearliest quotation a. 1587perfection
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰeh₁k-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰh₁kyétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θakjōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fakjō‘to make’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfaciō‘to make, construct, fashion, frame, build, erect’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEperficiō‘to finish, complete’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEperfectiō‘finishing, completion’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400perfection
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500perfeccioun
- Englishearliest quotation a. 1587perfection
Earliest quotation: a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., (please specify the folio): “No tongue can her perfections tell”.
Equivalent to perfect + -ion
Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k-
…
Latin perficiō ‘to finish’
Latin perfectus ‘finished, complete’
Old French parfit
Middle English perfit
English perfect
Linked words
through Proto-Italic *θakjō
effectively, effectiveness, ineffective, affectionate, putrefaction, 65 more
through Proto-Italic *fakjō ‘to make’
factor, difficulty, effective, manufacture, interface, facet, faction, affection, affective, deface, defector, effector, defection, affectation, confectionary, 70 more
through Latin faciō ‘to make, construct, fashion, frame, build, erect’
face, fact, difficult, profit, feature, facility, effect, efficient, faculty, affair, sacrifice, facial, affect, deficit, facilitate, feat, efficacy, infection, facade, deficient, fetish, superficial, defect, counterfeit, facsimile, façade, infect, hacienda, maleficent, facies, efficacious, difficile, beautify, parfait, aficionado, beneficent, confit, refectory, confection, 85 more
through Latin perficiō ‘to finish, complete’
Today it means
noun The quality or state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing substandard remains; the highest attainable state or degree of excellence.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k- / perfection