Perform, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Performed; p. pr. & vb. n. Performing.]
Etymology: [OE. performen, parfourmen, parfournen, OF. parfornir, parfournir, to finish, complete; OF. & F. par (see Par) + fournir to finish, complete. The word has been influenced by form; cf. L. performare to form thoroughly. See Furnish.]
1. To carry through; to bring to completion; to achieve; to accomplish; to execute; to do. I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me. Ps. lvii. 2. Great force to perform what they did attempt. Sir P. Sidney.
2. To discharge; to fulfill; to act up to; as, to perform a duty; to perform a promise or a vow. To perform your father's will. Shak.
3. To represent; to act; to play; as in drama. Perform a part thou hast not done before. Shak.
Syn. -- To accomplish; do; act; transact; achieve; execute; discharge; fulfill; effect; complete; consummate. See Accomplish.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Perform, v. i.
To do, execute, or accomplish something; to acquit one's self in any business; esp., to represent sometimes by action; to act a part; to play on a musical instrument; as, the players perform poorly; the musician performs on the organ.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for perform; he lists it under do, execute, make, transact.
Where he writes about it:
Achieve--to do something worthy of a chief--signifies always to perform some great and generally some worthy exploit. — from do
Perform and accomplish both imply working toward the end; but perform always allows a possibility of not attaining, while accomplish carries the thought of full completion. — from do
In Longfellow's lines, "Patience; accomplish thy labor," etc., perform could not be substituted without great loss. — from do
We finish a garment or a letter, complete an edifice or a life-work, consummate a bargain or a crime, discharge a duty, effect a purpose, execute a command, fulfil a promise, perform our daily tasks, realize an ideal, accomplish a design, achieve a victory. — from do
There are many acts that one may do, accomplish, or perform unaided; what he transacts is by means of or in association with others; one may do a duty, perform a vow, accomplish a task, but he transacts business, since that always involves the agency of others. — from transact