Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Perform

Per-form′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Performed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Performing
.]
[OE.
performen
,
parfourmen
,
parfournen
, OF.
parfornir
,
parfournir
, to finish, complete; OF. & F.
par
(see
Par
) +
fournir
to finish, complete. The word has been influenced by
form
; cf. L.
performare
to form thoroughly. See
Furnish
.]
1.
To carry through; to bring to completion; to achieve; to accomplish; to execute; to do.
I will cry unto God most high, unto God that
performeth
all things for me.
Ps. lvii. 2.
Great force to
perform
what they did attempt.
Sir P. Sidney.
2.
To discharge; to fulfill; to act up to;
as, to
perform
a duty; to
perform
a promise or a vow.
To
perform
your father’s will.
Shakespeare
3.
To represent; to act; to play; as in drama.
Perform
a part thou hast not done before.
Shakespeare
Syn. – To accomplish; do; act; transact; achieve; execute; discharge; fulfill; effect; complete; consummate. See
Accomplish
.

Per-form′

,
Verb.
I.
To do, execute, or accomplish something; to acquit one's self in any business; esp., to represent sometimes by action; to act a part; to play on a musical instrument;
as, the players
perform
poorly; the musician
performs
on the organ.

Webster 1828 Edition

Perform

PERFORM'

,
Verb.
T.
[L. per and formo, to make.]
1.
To do; to execute; to accomplish; as, to perform two days' labor in one day; to perform a noble deed or achievement.
2.
To execute; to discharge; as, to perform a duty or office.
3.
To fulfill; as, to perform a covenant, promise or contract; to perform a vow.

PERFORM'

,
Verb.
I.
To do; to act a part. The player performs well in different characters. The musician performs well on the organ.

Definition 2024

perform

perform

English

Verb

perform ‎(third-person singular simple present performs, present participle performing, simple past and past participle performed)

  1. To do something; to execute.
    • 2013 July-August, Lee S. Langston, “The Adaptable Gas Turbine”, in American Scientist:
      Turbines have been around for a long time—windmills and water wheels are early examples. The name comes from the Latin turbo, meaning vortex, and thus the defining property of a turbine is that a fluid or gas turns the blades of a rotor, which is attached to a shaft that can perform useful work.
    The scientists performed several experiments.   It took him only twenty minutes to perform the task.‎
  2. To do something in front of an audience, often in order to entertain it.
    She will perform in the play.   The magician performed badly – none of his tricks worked.   The string quartet performed three pieces by Haydn.‎
    • Shakespeare
      Perform a part thou hast not done before.

Translations

to be checked

Derived terms

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English performen, parfournen ‎(“to perform”), from Anglo-Norman performer, parfourmer, alteration of Old French parfornir, parfurnir ‎(“to complete, accomplish, perform”), from par- + fornir, furnir ‎(“to accomplish, furnish”), from Frankish *frumjan ‎(“to accomplish, furnish”), from Proto-Germanic *frumjaną, *framjaną ‎(“to further, promote, accomplish, furnish, carry out”), from Proto-Indo-European *promo- ‎(“in front, forth”), *per- ‎(“forward, out”). Cognate with Old High German frummen ‎(“to do, execute, accomplish, provide”), Old Saxon frummian ‎(“to perform, promote”), Old English fremman ‎(“to perform, execute, carry out, accomplish”), Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌿𐌼𐌾𐌰𐌽 ‎(frumjan, “to promote, accomplish”). See also frame, from.

Pronunciation

Similar Results