LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivefirst/second-declension adjective

perperus

perperus (feminine perpera, neuter perperum)
Classical[ˈpɛr.pɛ.rʊs]Ecclesiastical[ˈpɛr.pe.rus]

Meaning

  1. adjectivefaulty, defective
  2. adjectivewrong, incorrect

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Perperam · Falso · False · Fallaciter

1. Perperam (redupl. of παρά) denotes that which is not true, objectively, with reference to the object, as incorrect; whereas falso, subjectively, in reference to the person, as mistaken. 2. Falso agere has its foundation in error and self-deceit; whereas false and fallaciter happens against better knowledge and conscience; false, through fear and weakness of character; fallaciter, like deceitfully, with the wicked intention of deceiving and betraying. Comp. Tac. Ann. i. 1. Tiberii res . . . ob metum false compositæ sunt, according to Wolf’s reading; comp. with Germ. 36. Inter impotentes et validos falso quiescas. 3. The adjective falsus combines the notions of falso and of the participle falsus, and is distinguished only from fallax. Cic. Phil. xii. 2. Spes falsa et fallax. Tac. Ann. xvi. 33. Specie bonarum falsos et amicitiæ fallaces. (i. 66.)

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativeperperusperperaperperum
genitiveperperīperperaeperperī
dativeperperōperperaeperperō
accusativeperperumperperamperperum
ablativeperperōperperāperperō
vocativeperpereperperaperperum
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativeperperīperperaeperpera
genitiveperperōrumperperārumperperōrum
dativeperperīsperperīsperperīs
accusativeperperōsperperāsperpera
ablativeperperīsperperīsperperīs
vocativeperperīperperaeperpera

perpĕrus, a, um, adj., = πέρπερος (prop. heedless, inconsiderate; hence, in gen.),
I. not properly constituted, faulty, defective, wrong (as adj. only ante- and postclass.): populares, Att. ap. Non. 150, 12: nihil perperum, Vop. Tac. 6 (dub.; al. praeproperum).—Hence, adv.
A. perpĕram (adv. acc. fem. like clam, coram, palam; and in the plur. alias, alteras), wrongly, incorrectly, untruly, falsely (class.): loqui, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 92: suadere aliquid, id. Capt. 2, 2, 78: insanire, id. Men. 5, 5, 59: dicere aliquid, Ter. Phorm. 5, 1, 18 (Serv. ad loc.): si aspires perperam, Nigid. ap. Gell. 13, 6, 3: seu recte, seu perperam fecerunt, Cic. Quint. 8, 31: recte an perperam judicare, id. Caecin. 24, 69: interpretari, Liv. 1, 23; Sen. Ep. 9, 13; Suet. Aug. 92: pronunciare, Plin. Ep. 3, 5, 12.—
2. In a milder signif., erroneously, by mistake: ita dico, ne ad alias aedis perperam deveneris, Plaut. Most. 4, 2, 52; Varr. R. R. 1, 69, 2: perperam praeco non consulem, sed imperatorem pronunciavit, Suet. Dom. 10; Auct. B. Hisp. 12.—
B. perpĕrē, wrongly, falsely: opiniones perpere praesumptae, Claud. Mam. Stat. Anim. 1, 1.

Origins

The root perus is from Proto-Italic *pero- (“on the other side”) from Proto-Indo-European *per-o-. Perhaps originally meaning “precipitous, heedless”. Cognate with Latin per (“through”), prīmus (“first”), prīvus (“private”) and prīscus (“ancient”). The additional per- prefix is from the same root, used in the sense of "through".

Quick answers

What does perperus mean in Latin?
perperus, a adjective, means “faulty, defective; wrong, incorrect”.
How do you pronounce perperus?
In classical Latin, [ˈpɛr.pɛ.rʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈpɛr.pe.rus].