Making something as good as possible; improving something until it reaches an ideal or flawless state.
From Old French 'parfait,' derived from Latin 'perfectus' meaning 'finished' or 'completed' (per- 'through' + facere 'to make'). The verb form with '-ing' shows the ongoing action of making perfect.
Psychologists note that perfectionism has a 'sweet spot'—striving for excellence helps you improve, but obsessing over perfection actually decreases performance and increases stress! The word 'perfect' literally means 'made thoroughly through,' suggesting the journey matters as much as the destination.
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