HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

per-

pref.

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.

[Latin, from per, through; see per¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

per.

abbr.

1. period

2. person

per

(pûr)

prep.
Informal

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.

adv.
Informal

1. For each one; apiece: sold the cookies for one dollar per.

2. Per hour: was driving at 60 miles per.

[Latin; see per¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

American Heritage Dictionary Products

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

THE USAGE PANEL

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

American Heritage Dictionary Products