per (unstressed)
determiner
1 for every
three pence per pound
prep
2 (esp. in some Latin phrases) by; through
3 ♦
as per according to
as per specifications
4 ♦
as per usual Informal as usual (C15: from Latin: by, for each)
ignotum per ignotius (Latin)
n an explanation that is obscurer than the thing to be explained
(literally: the unknown by means of the more unknown)
obscurum per obscurius
n another term for →
ignotum per ignotius
(Latin: the obscure by the more obscure)
pay-per-view
n
a a system of television broadcasting by which subscribers pay for each programme they wish to receive
b (as modifier)
a pay-per-view channel
PER (in Britain)
abbrev. for Professional Employment Register
per.
abbrev. for
per-
prefix
4 completely, throughly
perplex
5 (intensifier)
perfervid
6 indicating that a chemical compound contains a high proportion of a specified element
peroxide, perchloride
7 indicating that a chemical element is in a higher than usual state of oxidation
permanganate, perchlorate
8 not in technical usage a variant of →
peroxy-
persulphuric acid
(from Latin per through)
per annum
adv every year or by the year
per ardua ad astra (Latin) through difficulties to the stars: the motto of the RAF
per capita
adj
adv of or for each person
(Latin, literally: according to heads)
per cent
adv
1 (Also)
per centum in or for every hundred
n (also)
♦
percent
2 a percentage or proportion
3 often pl securities yielding a rate of interest as specified
he bought three percents
(C16: from Medieval Latin per centum out of every hundred)
per contra
adv on the contrary
(from Latin)
per diem
adv
1 every day or by the day
n
a an allowance for daily expenses, usually those incurred while working
b (as modifier)
a per-diem allowance
(from Latin)
per mensem (Latin)
adv every month or by the month
per mill , mil
adv by the thousand or in each thousand
(C19: from per + French or Latin mille thousand, on the model of per cent)
per pro
prep by delegation to; through the agency of: used when signing documents on behalf of someone else
(Latin: abbreviation of per procurationem)
See at pp
per se
adv by or in itself; intrinsically
(Latin)