Etymology Map
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Parfait

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a dessert of layered ice cream or cream, fruit and other ingredients, served in a tall glass

Where does the word "parfait" come from? It comes from Latin perfectus, passing through French before entering English (1890s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
perfectus
Latin · ancient
"completed, perfect"
past participle of 'perficere', to complete, from 'per-', thoroughly, plus 'facere', to make
2
Stage 2 of 3
parfait
French · 1800s
"perfect; a frozen dessert"
'parfait glacé' named a rich frozen dessert of cream, eggs and sugar in French cookery
3
Stage 3 of 3
parfait
English · 1890s
"layered dessert"
in American usage it became a layered dessert of ice cream or yogurt with fruit in a tall glass
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Read the full story

Parfait’s story begins in Latin: perfectus meant “completed, perfect.” Past participle of 'perficere', to complete, from 'per-', thoroughly, plus 'facere', to make. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in French as parfait. 'parfait glacé' named a rich frozen dessert of cream, eggs and sugar in French cookery. It reached English by 1890s as parfait. In American usage it became a layered dessert of ice cream or yogurt with fruit in a tall glass. Today, parfait means a dessert of layered ice cream or cream, fruit and other ingredients, served in a tall glass.