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Imperfect
The imperfect (abbreviated IMPERF) is a verb form, found in various languages, which combines past tense (reference to a past time) and imperfective aspect (reference to a continuing or repeated event or state). It can therefore have meanings similar to the English “was walking” or “used to walk.” It contrasts with preterite forms, which refer to a single completed event in the past.
Traditionally, the imperfect of languages such as Latin and French is referred to as one of the tenses, although in fact it encodes aspectual information in addition to tense (time reference). It may be more precisely called past imperfective.’
English is an example of a language with no general imperfective and expresses it via different ways (see below and Imperfective aspect in English). When the term “imperfect” used in relation to English it refers to forms much more commonly called past progressive or past continuous (like was doing or were doing). These are combinations of past tense with specifically continuous or progressive aspect.
The term can take on specific conventional meanings in the grammars of particular languages. In German, Imperfekt was used to refer to the simply conjugated past tense (to contrast with the Perfekt or compound past form), but the term Präteritum (preterite) is now preferred, since the form does not carry any implication of imperfective aspect.
“Imperfect” comes from the Latin imperfectus “unfinished”, because the imperfect expresses an ongoing, uncompleted action. The equivalent Ancient Greek term was paratatikós “prolonged”.
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Imperfect (adjective)
not perfect
“defective|fallible|faultful”
“faultless|infallible|perfect”
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Imperfect (adjective)
unisexual: having either male (with stamens) or female (with pistil) flowers, but not with both.
“perfect”
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Imperfect (adjective)
known or expected to be polyphyletic, as of a form taxon.
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Imperfect (adjective)
lacking some elementary organ that is essential to successful or normal activity.
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Imperfect (adjective)
belonging to a tense of verbs used in describing a past action that is incomplete or continuous
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Imperfect (noun)
something having a minor flaw
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Imperfect (noun)
a tense of verbs used in describing a past action that is incomplete or continuous
“preterimperfect”
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Imperfect (verb)
to make imperfect
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Perfect (adjective)
Fitting its definition precisely.
“a perfect circle”
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Perfect (adjective)
Having all of its parts in harmony with a common purpose.
“That bucket with the hole in the bottom is a poor bucket, but it is perfect for watering plants.”
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Perfect (adjective)
Without fault or mistake; thoroughly skilled or talented.
“Practice makes perfect.”
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Perfect (adjective)
Excellent and delightful in all respects.
“a perfect day”
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Perfect (adjective)
Representing a completed action.
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Perfect (adjective)
Sexually mature and fully differentiated.
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Perfect (adjective)
Of flowers, having both male (stamens) and female (carpels) parts.
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Perfect (adjective)
Of a set, that it is equal to its set of limit points, i.e. set A is perfect if A=A’.
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Perfect (adjective)
Describing an interval or any compound interval of a unison, octave, or fourths and fifths that are not tritones.
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Perfect (adjective)
Made with equal parts of sweet and dry vermouth.
“a perfect Manhattan;”
“a perfect Rob Roy”
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Perfect (adjective)
Well informed; certain; sure.
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Perfect (noun)
The perfect tense, or a form in that tense.
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Perfect (noun)
A perfect score; the achievement of finishing a stage or task with no mistakes.
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Perfect (verb)
To make perfect; to improve or hone.
“I am going to perfect this article.”
“You spend too much time trying to perfect your dancing.”
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Perfect (verb)
To take an action, usually the filing of a document in the correct venue, that secures a legal right.
“perfect an appeal; perfect an interest; perfect a judgment”
Perfect Illustrations
