![Membean Word Root Of the Day show](https://d3dthqtvwic6y7.cloudfront.net/podcast-covers/000/025/719/small/membean-word-root-of-the-day.jpg)
Summary: The prefix *per-*, besides meaning "through," can also act as an intensive prefix, adding emphasis to a given word's root. An intensive prefix can be effectively translated as "thoroughly" or "very" to highlight its emphatic function. For instance, the prefix *per-*, such as in [*per*]fect, means to do something so "thoroughly" that nothing more can be done to it.