[im.per.fect] adj [alter. of ME imperfit, fr. MF imparfait, fr. L imperfectus, fr. in- + perfectus perfect] (1570) 1: not perfect: as a: defective b of a flower: having stamens or pistils but not both c: lacking or not involving sexual reproduction "the ~ stage of a fungus"
2: of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense used to designate a continuing state or an incomplete action esp. in the past
3: not enforceable at law -- im.per.fect.ly adv -- im.per.fect.ness n
[2]imperfect n (1871): an imperfect tense; also: the verb form expressing it