Perficere

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A term that refers to completing or finishing something thoroughly or to perfection
2. Holding the idea of fulfilling a task or duty with great care and skill
3. Signifying the act of achieving an end goal through meticulous effort and attention to detail

Etymology: "Perficere" is a Latin verb built from "per," meaning "through" or "thoroughly," and "facere," meaning "to make or do." Its core sense was to carry something all the way to completion: to finish a task, accomplish a plan, or bring a work to its end. The care and precision in the gloss is an implication of thoroughness, not the verb's basic meaning, which is simply reaching the end. The clearest trace of the verb in English is the adjective "perfect," which comes through Old French "parfit" from "perfectus," the past participle of "perficere." A perfect thing was originally one that was finished, with nothing left undone. The sense of flawlessness developed from that idea of completeness.

Synonyms: complete, accomplish, achieve

Antonyms: fail, abandon