Per Se

Pronunciation: /pər ˈseɪ/

Definitions of per se

adverb used to emphasize that something is being considered on its own merits, without reference to anything else

Example Sentences

A1 I don't like spicy food per se, but I'll eat it if it's not too hot.

A2 She's not a bad person per se, just a bit misunderstood.

B1 The movie wasn't a masterpiece per se, but it was entertaining.

B2 The new policy isn't perfect per se, but it's a step in the right direction.

C1 The artist's work is not groundbreaking per se, but it is still highly regarded in the art world.

C2 The legislation is not flawless per se, but it addresses many important issues.

Examples of per se in a Sentence

formal The study did not focus on the specific details of the case per se, but rather on the overall trends in data analysis.

informal I don't have a problem with spicy food per se, but this dish is just too hot for me.

slang I'm not a fan of horror movies per se, but I do enjoy a good thriller every now and then.

figurative The book wasn't about love per se, but more about the human experience and emotions that come with it.

Grammatical Forms of per se

• past tense: per se'd
• plural: per se's
• comparative: more per se
• superlative: most per se
• present tense: per se
• future tense: will per se
• perfect tense: has per se'd
• continuous tense: is per seing
• singular: per se
• positive degree: per se
• infinitive: to per se
• gerund: per seing
• participle: per se'd

Origin and Evolution of per se

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The phrase 'per se' is derived from Latin, where 'per' means 'by' or 'through' and 'se' means 'itself'. It is used to emphasize that something is intrinsically or inherently the case.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in legal contexts to specify that something is considered in and of itself, 'per se' has evolved to be commonly used in everyday language to emphasize the essential nature of something, often used to clarify that a statement is not intended to be taken in a broader sense.