Part 183

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.