per

Definition

  • preposition: for each
  • preposition: by the means or agency of
  • often used with 'as'
  • synonyms: through, by, for

Examples

  • He 'went over his supervisor's head' to complain about the policy to the company's president. [=he complained about the policy to the company's president rather than his supervisor]

  • What is the average income 'per capita' in the state? [=what is the average income for people in the state?; how much money does each person in the state earn on average?]

  • She feels that there is nothing wrong with gambling 'per se', but she thinks that it should be done in moderation.

Movie quotes

  • (..) if not condoned. No. This was revenge... ...of a much more brutal, cold-blooded nature. Consider this: Four bullets per victim. Not six shots fired, but eight. That means that he fired the gun empty... ...and then stopped to reload... ...so that he could shoot each of them again. An extra bullet per lover... ...right in the head. You strike me as a particularly icy and remorseless man, Mr. Dufresne. It chills my blood just to look at you. By the power vested in me (..)
    1994 The Shawshank Redemption