imperfective

American  

[im-per-fek-tiv] / ˌɪm pərˈfɛk tɪv /

adjective

1. noting an aspect of the verb, as in Russian, that indicates incompleteness of the action or state at a temporal point of reference.

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noun

1. the imperfective aspect.

2. a verb in this aspect.

imperfective British  

/ ˌɪmpəˈfɛktɪv /

adjective

1. denoting an aspect of the verb in some languages, including English, used to indicate that the action is in progress without regard to its completion Compare perfective

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noun

1. 1. the imperfective aspect of a verb

   2. a verb in this aspect

Other Word Forms

• imperfectively
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of imperfective

First recorded in 1670–80; imperfect + -ive