Inquire into the nature and properties of the things, . . . and
thereby perfect our ideas of their distinct species.
Locke.
Perfecting press (Print.), a press in which the printing on both sides
of the paper is completed in one passage through the machine.
Syn. -- To finish; accomplish; complete; consummate.
Per"fect*er (?), n. One who, or that which, makes perfect. "The . . .
perfecter of our faith." Barrow.
Per*fect`i*bil"i*an (?), n. A perfectionist. [R.] Ed. Rev.
Per`fec*tib"i*list (?), n. A perfectionist. See also Illuminati, 2.
[R.]
Per*fect`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. perfectibilitÈ.] The quality or
state of being perfectible.
Per*fect"i*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. perfectible.] Capable of becoming, or
being made, perfect.
Per*fec"tion (?), n. [F. perfection, L. perfectio.] 1. The quality or
state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing requisite is
wanting; entire development; consummate culture, skill, or moral
excellence; the highest attainable state or degree of excellence;
maturity; as, perfection in an art, in a science, or in a system;
perfection in form or degree; fruits in perfection.
2. A quality, endowment, or acquirement completely excellent; an ideal
faultlessness; especially, the divine attribute of complete excellence.
Shak.
What tongue can her perfections tell?
Sir P. Sidney.
To perfection, in the highest degree of excellence; perfectly; as, to
imitate a model to perfection.
Per*fec"tion, v. t. To perfect. [Obs.] Foote.
Per*fec"tion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to perfection; characterized
by perfection. [R.] Bp. Pearson.
Per*fec"tion*ate (?), v. t. To perfect. Dryden.
Per*fec"tion*ism (?), n. The doctrine of the Perfectionists.
Per*fec"tion*ist, n. One pretending to perfection; esp., one pretending
to moral perfection; one who believes that persons may and do attain to
moral perfection and sinlessness in this life. South.
Per*fec"tion*ment (?), n. [Cf. F. perfectionnement.] The act of
bringing to perfection, or the state of having attained to perfection.
[R.] I. Taylor.
Per*fect"ive (?), a. Tending or conducing to make perfect, or to bring
to perfection; -- usually followed by of. "A perfective alteration."
Fuller.
Actions perfective of their natures.
Ray.
Per*fec"tive*ly, adv. In a perfective manner.
Per"fect*ly (?), adv. In a perfect manner or degree; in or to
perfection; completely; wholly; throughly; faultlessly. "Perfectly
divine." Milton.
As many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Matt. xiv. 36.
Per"fect*ness, n. The quality or state of being perfect; perfection.
"Charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Col. iii. 14.
Per*fer"vid (?), a. [Pref. per- + fervid.] Very fervid; too fervid;
glowing; ardent.
Per*fi"cient (?), a. [L. perficiens, p. pr. of perficere to perform.
See Perfect.] Making or doing throughly; efficient; effectual. [R.]
Blackstone.
Per*fi"cient, n. One who performs or perfects a work; especially, one
who endows a charity. [R.]
Per*fid"i*ous (pr*fd"*s; 277), a. [L. perfidious.] 1. Guilty of
perfidy; violating good faith or vows; false to trust or confidence
reposed; teacherous; faithless; as, a perfidious friend. Shak.
2. Involving, or characterized by, perfidy. "Involved in this
perfidious fraud." Milton.
Per*fid"i*ous*ly, adv. In a perfidious manner.
Per*fid"i*ous*ness, n. The quality of being perfidious; perfidy.
Clarendon.
Per"fi*dy (pr"f*d), n.; pl. Perfidies (- dz). [L. perfidia, fr. L.
perfidus faithless; per (cf. Skr. par away) + fides faith: cf. F.
perfidie. See Faith.] The act of violating faith or allegiance;
violation of a promise or vow, or of trust reposed; faithlessness;
treachery.
The ambition and perfidy of tyrants.
Macaulay.
His perfidy to this sacred engagement.
DeQuincey.
Per"fit (pr"ft), a. Perfect. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Per*fix" (pr"fks), v. t. [Pref. per- + fix.] To fix surely; to appoint.
[Obs.]
Per"fla*ble (?), a. [L. perflabilis. See Perflate.] Capable of being
blown through. [Obs.]
Per*flate" (?), v. t. [L. perflatus, p. p. of perflare to blow
through.] To blow through. [Obs.] Harvey.
Per*fla"tion (?), n. [L. perflatio.] The act of perflating. [Obs.]
Woodward.
Per*fo"li*ate (?), a. [Pref. per- + L. folium leaf.] 1. (Bot.) Having
the basal part produced around the stem; -- said of leaves which the
stem apparently passes directory through.