perfume
UK[pəˈfjuːm]US[pərˈfjuːm]
n
a liquid with a pleasant smell, typically made from essential oils extracted from flowers or spices, used on the body
v
to give a pleasant smell to something
Morpheme Breakdown
per
fume
per
through
fume
smoke
Etymology
the word perfume originates from the latin phrase 'per fumum', which translates literally as 'through smoke'. this refers to the ancient practice of using fragrant smoke from burning incense or aromatic substances for religious ceremonies or to scent the air. the term entered english via middle french 'parfum', retaining the core concept of a dispersed pleasant odor. over time, the meaning evolved from the act of fumigation to specifically denote a liquid fragrance applied to the body, while the verb form kept the original sense of imparting a scent.
Analysis
Structure: per (through) + fume (smoke)
- per: from latin 'per', meaning 'through, thoroughly'. a prefix indicating intensity or completion.
- fume: from latin 'fumus', meaning 'smoke, vapor'. a noun root.
Examples
she wore a delicate perfume of jasmine and sandalwood.
the flowers perfumed the entire room with their sweet scent.
he bought an expensive bottle of french perfume as a gift.