per

Per is defined as to, for, by or according to.

(preposition)

An example of per used as a preposition is in the phrase, "as per standards," which means by the standards.

Per mean for each once.

(adverb)

An example of per used as an adverb is in the phrase, "one cookie per person," which means one cookie for each person.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See per in Webster's New World College Dictionary

  1. through; by; by means of
    1. for each; for every: fifty cents per yard
    2. during each: used in indicating a rate of motion or activity: to cover 500 miles per day
  2. according to: used esp. in business: per your instructions

Origin: L < IE base *per-, a going beyond > far, for

  1. period
  2. person

  1. Persia
  2. Persian

  1. through, throughout: perfoliate, peroral
  2. thoroughly, completely, very: perfervid
  3. Chem.
    1. containing a specified element or radical in its maximum, or a relatively high, valence: perchloric acid
    2. containing the maximum amount of the indicated element: perfluoropropane (completely fluorinated propane, CF)
    3. containing the divalent group O: peracid
      sometimes peroxy-

Origin: L < per, through: see per

See per in American Heritage Dictionary 4

preposition
  1. To, for, or by each; for every: Gasoline once cost 40 cents per gallon.
  2. According to; by: Changes were made to the manuscript per the author's instructions.
  3. By means of; through.
adverb
Informal
  1. For each one; apiece: sold the cookies for one dollar per.
  2. Per hour: was driving at 60 miles per.

Origin:

Origin: Latin; see per1 in Indo-European roots

.

abbreviation
  1. period
  2. person

prefix
  1. Thoroughly; completely; intensely: perfervid.
  2. Containing an element in its highest oxidation state: perchloric acid.
  3. Containing a large or the largest possible proportion of an element: peroxide.
  4. Containing the peroxy group: peracid.
  5. Slang Very: percool, as in “That shirt is percool, man!”

Origin:

Origin: Latin

Origin: , from per, through; see per1 in Indo-European roots

.

Learn more about per

link/cite print suggestion box