IMPERFECT

I. adjective Etymology: alteration of Middle English imparfit, from Latin ~us, from in- + perfectus perfect Date: 14th century not perfect: as, defective , having stamens or pistils but not both, lacking or not involving sexual reproduction , of, relating to, or constituting a verb tense used to designate a continuing state or an incomplete action especially in the past, not enforceable at law, ~ly adverb ~ness noun II. noun Date: 1871 an ~ tense