Pĕr'fect1, a.
(14, 115), a. [Lat. perfectus, p. p. of perficere, to carry to the end, to perform, finish, from the prefix per, through, and facere, to make, do; Sp. perfecto, Pg. perfeito, It. perfetto, Pr. perfeit, O. Fr. perfect, parfeit, parfit, N. Fr. parfait.] 1. Brought to consummation or completeness; carried through; completed; filled up; full. Whence even now the tumult of loud mirth Was rife, and perfect in my listening ear. Milton. My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. xii. 9. 2. Especially, not defective; having all that is requisite to its nature and kind; without deficiency or blemish; finished; complete; consummate; as, a perfect statue; a perfect likeness; a perfect work; a perfect system. “As full, as perfect, in a hair as heart.” Pope. God made thee perfect, not immaculate. Milton. 3. Hence, specifically, (a.) Complete in moral excellences. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matt. v. 48. (b.) In one's senses; sane. Beau. & Fl. (c.) (Bot.) Having nothing abortive as regards the flower; having both stamens and pistils. Gray.
Perfect cadence (Mus.), a complete and satisfactory close in the harmony.—Perfect chord, a concord or union of sounds which is perfectly coalescent and agreeable to the ear, as the fifth and the octave; a perfect consonance.—Perfect number (Arith.), a number equal to the sum of all its divisors, as the number 6. Brande.—Perfect tense (Gram.), a tense which expresses an act completed; the preterit tense.
Synonyms—Finished; consummate; complete; faultless; blameless; unblemished.