Per (?), prep. [L. Cf. Far, For-, Pardon, and cf. Par, prep.] Through; by means of; through the agency of; by; for; for each; as, per annum; per capita, by heads, or according to individuals; per curiam, by the court; per se, by itself, of itself. Per is also sometimes used with English words.
Per annum, by the year; in each successive year; annually. — Per cent, Per centum, by the hundred; in the hundred; — used esp. of proportions of ingredients, rate or amount of interest, and the like; commonly used in the shortened form per cent. — Per diem, by the day.