Imperfect Definition
ĭm-pûrfĭkt
adjective
Not finished or complete; lacking in something.
Webster's New World
Not perfect.
Wiktionary
Not perfect; having a defect, fault, or error.
Webster's New World
In certain inflected languages, designating or of the tense of a verb that indicates a past action or state as uncompleted, continuous, customary, or going on at the same time as another: “was writing” and “used to write” are English forms corresponding to the imperfect tense in such languages.
Webster's New World
Having either stamens or a pistil only. Used of a flower.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
noun
A piece of merchandise having a minor flaw that does not impair its use, usually sold at a discount.
American Heritage
The imperfect tense.
Webster's New World
A verb in this tense.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- continuous tense
- imperfect-tense
- progressive-tense
- progressive
- reject
- imperfection
- fault
- discard
- blemish
Other Word Forms of Imperfect
Noun
Singular:
imperfect
Plural:
imperfectsOrigin of Imperfect
-
From Middle English imperfit, from Old French imparfit (modern: imparfait), from Latin imperfectus. Spelling modified 15c. to conform Latin etymology. See im- + perfect.
From Wiktionary
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Middle English imparfit from Old French imparfait from Latin imperfectus in- not in–1 perfectus perfect perfect
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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