legere vs perlegere
Latin word comparison
Listen to legere
Listen to perlegere
| legere | perlegere |
|---|---|
LEH-ge-re verb (infinitive) | per-LEH-ge-re verb (infinitive) |
| to read; to gather, choose, or pick up (depending on context) | to read through, to peruse, to survey thoroughly |
How they differ
Perlegere conveys reading completely or carefully through a text (a thorough survey), whereas legere is the general verb 'to read' and does not by itself imply thoroughness or completeness.
When to use each
When to use legere: Prefer legere for the general act of reading or when no emphasis on completeness or carefulness is intended.
When to use perlegere: Prefer perlegere when you want to stress reading a text from beginning to end, or examining it carefully and systematically.
Side-by-side examples
- Multos librōs legimus in schola.
(We read many books at school.) - Praecepta diligenter perlegam ante examen.
(I will read the instructions carefully before the exam.)
Register & nuance: Perlegere is somewhat more literary or scholarly, used when one wishes to stress thoroughness or careful examination.