perfect#

perfect adj Perfect, whole, entire, intact are comparable when they mean not deficient, defective, or faulty in any particular.

Perfect is the usual term to describe such a condition, for it may imply not only the presence of every part, every element, and every quality necessary to a thing in its finished or fully developed state, but the soundness, the proportionateness, and the excellence of each part, element, or quality

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a perfect set of teeth

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a perfect diamond

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a physically perfect infant

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the memory of that night remained intact and perfect— Wylie

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The term is also applicable where there is no more definite measure or test than correspondence to a very high standard of excellence

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a perfect gentleman

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perfect coloring

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a perfect poem like Lycidas, a perfect fiction like Esmond, a perfect handling of a theory like Newman's Idea of a University— Pater

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{

he is the most perfect writer of my generation, he writes the best sentences word for word, rhythm upon rhythm— Mailer

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or to an archetype, definition, or pattern

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a perfect hexagon

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a perfect Greek temple

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or to a conception that represents an ideal or personal vision of the highest possible of its kind

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perfect virtue

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The term is also used in the sense of utter or com-plete

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he is a perfect fool

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that is perfect nonsense

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Whole and entire (see also WHOLE 2) are somewhat elevated and often reminiscent of scriptural use.

Whole usually implies a perfection, typically a moral or physical perfection, that can be sought and attained or that can be lost and regained; it usually suggests the attainment of or restoration to health, soundness, completeness

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here, with one balm for many fevers found, whole of an ancient evil, I sleep sound— Housman

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{

one silver spider of machine, so intricate and whole as to appear rightly sufficient in itself— Terry Southern

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daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole—Mt 9:22

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Entire usually implies a physical, intellectual, moral, or spiritual perfection that derives from the completeness, integrity, soundness, and often the freedom from admixture of the thing so described; more than whole, it suggests a perfection that is unimpaired or without sign of previous imperfection; thus, a collection is entire when no constituent item is missing; an entire horse is an adult uncastrated male

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oh grant me, Phoebus, calm content, strength unimpaired, a mind entire— Conington

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Intact usually implies the retention of the perfection of a thing in its finished or its natural or its original state; often it suggests its passage through some experience that might have destroyed its soundness, integrity, or wholeness

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that high courage which enabled Fielding ... to keep his manly benevolence and love of truth intact— Thackeray

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had seen many storms, and had reached middle age with some illusions intact— Michener

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I am . . . thankful that I was among the last persons to see the original Rheims intact. The cathedral. . . remains enshrined ... in my memory forever -Ellis

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Analogous words: *pure, absolute, simple, sheer: *consummate, finished, accomplished: *impeccable, flawless, faultless, errorless

Antonyms: imperfect

Contrasted words: *deficient, defective

perfect vb *unfold, evolve, develop, elaborate

Analogous words: complete, finish (see CLOSE)