"by itself" (through itself)
We use it more as "at all costs/really" in Belgium, like in "did you per se need to do that?". Strange.
I think that has its origins in the correct use as in "that is not necessary per se" (I'm translating Dutch here
), where it replaces "op zich" which means "by itself". Only, when stating it as "did you per se need to do that" the meaning changes, and the original meaning of "per se" is lost. Seems to be common misuse
. I often use it wrong (if that is wrong). But anyway, if it's used in Belgium it has a function. Possibly the wrong function, but it has a function
.