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imperfect

Pronunciation: /ɪmˈpəːfɪkt/
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Definition of imperfect

adjective

  • 1not perfect; faulty or incomplete:an imperfect grasp of English
  • 2 Grammar (of a tense) denoting a past action in progress but not completed at the time in question.
  • 3 Music (of a cadence) ending on the dominant chord.
  • 4 Law (of a gift, title, etc.) transferred without all the necessary conditions or requirements being met.

noun

(the imperfect) Grammar
  • the imperfect tense.

Derivatives

imperfectly

adverb

Origin:

Middle English imparfit, imperfet, from Old French imparfait, from Latin imperfectus, from in- 'not' + perfectus (see perfect). The spelling change in the 16th century was due to association with the Latin form

imperfect in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of imperfect in the US English dictionary

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