Latin question: the word "per"?

Question

Wheelock's Latin translates "per" as "through" (from which we get words like permeable). But in English, the word is usually associated with a rate: 50 miles per hour, or 30 per cent ( per centum in Latin.) It seems the meaning would be " for every". You travel 50 miles for every hour elapsed, or you select 30 things for every 100 things. Was this a later meaning in Latin? Or does the english meaning have a different origin?

Answer 1

The word "per" in Latin has different meanings; one of them is "in relation to, in connection with" and I guess that's the origin of its use associated with a rate in English. However there are also other idiomatic English phrases where it's not associated with a rate:
as per instructions / as per enclosed / as per sample /
as per usual / per post / per rail / per procuration

Answer 2

In Italian "per" means "for". The Italian language came from Latin.

Answer 3

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RE:
Latin question: the word "per"?
Wheelock's Latin translates "per" as "through" (from which we get words like permeable). But in English, the word is usually associated with a rate: 50 miles per hour, or 30 per cent ( per centum in Latin.) It seems the meaning would be " for every". You travel 50...

Answer 4

I don't speak Latin but I do speak Spanish and Italian, which originated from the Latin language. Per is Latin and Italian for through, on behalf of, and for, depending on the context.

Answer 5

"Per" does not only mean "through", it has a number of other meanings as well. Can't find my Latin dictionary at the moment, but I should that the word "for" also comes from "per".

Answer 6

it means if