A Quick and Simple Dictionary

per-

1. Prefix.  (context, non-productive) In verbs: denoting the sense "through", as in '''perforate'''.
2. Prefix.  (context, non-productive) In verbs: denoting the sense "thoroughly", as in '''perfect'''.
3. Prefix.  (context, non-productive) In verbs: denoting the sense "to destruction", as in '''pervert'''.
4. Prefix.  (context, non-productive) In adjectives and adverbs: denoting the sense "extremely", as in '''perfervid'''.
5. Prefix.  (chemistry) Forming nouns and adjectives denoting the maximum proportion of one element in a compound, as in '''peroxide'''.Or A prefix added to the name of an element in a polyatomic ion denote the number of that element (usually four).
6. Prefix.  (context, non-productive) Denoting the sense "by" or "per", as in '''perchance''' or '''perhaps'''.