Perfectioning

Yes, according to OED:

"the action of bringing something to perfection."

Hi,
That surprises me. I've been speaking English all my life, and I don't remember ever reading or hearing the word 'perfectioning'.

I'd say 'perfecting'.

Best wishes, Clive

I thought it was bizarre too, Clive, but there were 19,000 google hits for it. It seems to be used in technical contexts; for example, there's a PhD thesis out there entitled "The Perfectioning of Accounting Organisation for Investment Firms." (Please note "s" in "organisation" - this may not be an American massacre of the language after all)

Hi,
Yes, but my crude Google search gives 5.25 million hits for 'perfecting'.

I suspect a number of the hits for 'perfectioning' may be as a proper name, or by non-native speakers.

On the other hand, we are being told that it is in the OED.

Clive

And to make matters worse, I guess; or interesting (suit yourself): the earliest record of this word comes from the mid 16th century, according to OED, again.

Thanks for the answers! I'm perfectioning my vocabulary right now.

I really would advise against using it.

Although we've established it's a legitimate word, 99% of the people who hear it will think you've made a mistake.

Stick with "perfecting."

I agree with GG. Besides, you know, the perfectioning is the enemy of the goodening.

I'd bet that 90% of the 19.000 hits comes from forums discussing whether 'perfectioning' is valid or not

I'd go for 'perfec

It must come from more Latin oriented ears, which take "perfectio/perfectionis" as the model (perfectionner, perfeccionar, perfezionare).

As other European languages build on those more directly, their users tend to bring that form when they formulate in English.