# per se

> English word · Adverb · IPA /pəˈseɪ/

## Definitions
1. Without determination by or involvement of extraneous factors; by its very nature.
2. In a true or literal sense; as one would expect from the name or description.
3. As the principle of its own determination and positing itself.
4. Not leaving discretion to the judge to take into account additional factors that could rebut the judgment, deriving the qualification from the statute.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin per sē (“by itself”), from per (“by, through”) and sē (“itself, himself, herself, themselves”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/per-se