perform
UK[pəˈfɔːm]US[pərˈfɔːrm]
v
To carry out, accomplish, or fulfill an action, task, or function.
v
To present a form of entertainment, such as a play, piece of music, or dance, to an audience.
Morpheme Breakdown
per
form
per
completely
form
shape, mold
Etymology
The word 'perform' entered English in the 14th century from Anglo-French parfourmer, itself a modification of Old French parfournir, meaning "to accomplish" or "to complete". This Old French term was a compound of the Latin prefix per- ("thoroughly") and the verb fornire ("to furnish" or "to provide"). The semantic core of the word, however, is rooted in the Latin forma ("a mold or pattern"). The underlying logic of the word's evolution is the idea of "thoroughly furnishing" or "completely bringing into form," which shifted from the general sense of completing a duty to the more specific modern senses of accomplishing a task or presenting a shaped, patterned piece of work, such as a play or musical piece, for an audience.
Analysis
Structure: per (completely) + form (shape, mold)
- per: A Latin prefix meaning "through", "thoroughly", or "completely".
- form: From Latin forma, meaning "shape", "mold", "pattern", or "beauty".
Examples
The surgeon will perform the operation tomorrow morning.
The orchestra performed Beethoven's Fifth Symphony brilliantly.
The new engine performs well under extreme conditions.