| 1. | a prefix meaning “through,” “thoroughly,” “utterly,” “very”: pervert; pervade; perfect. |
| 2. | Chemistry. a prefix used in the names of inorganic acids and their salts that possess the maximum amount of the element specified in the base word: percarbonic (H2C2O5), permanganic (HMnO4), persulfuric (H2S2O8), acids; potassium permanganate (KMnO4); potassium persulfate (K2S2O8). |
| per- pref.
[Latin, from per, through; see per1 in Indo-European roots.] |
per- pref.
Thoroughly; completely; intensely: perfuse.
Containing an element in its highest oxidation state: perchloric acid.
Containing a large or the largest possible proportion of an element: peroxide.
Containing the peroxy group: peracid.