Imperfect cadence

Imperfect cadence
Imperfect Im*per"fect, a. [L. imperfectus: pref. im- not + perfectus perfect: cf. F imparfait, whence OE. imparfit. See {Perfect}.] 1. Not perfect; not complete in all its parts; wanting a part; deective; deficient. [1913 Webster]

Something he left imperfect in the state. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. Wanting in some elementary organ that is essential to successful or normal activity. [1913 Webster]

He . . . stammered like a child, or an amazed, imperfect person. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

3. Not fulfilling its design; not realizing an ideal; not conformed to a standard or rule; not satisfying the taste or conscience; esthetically or morally defective. [1913 Webster]

Nothing imperfect or deficient left Of all that he created. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Then say not man's imperfect, Heaven in fault; Say rather, man's as perfect as he ought. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

{Imperfect arch}, an arch of less than a semicircle; a skew arch.

{Imperfect cadence} (Mus.), one not ending with the tonic, but with the dominant or some other chord; one not giving complete rest; a half close.

{Imperfect consonances} (Mus.), chords like the third and sixth, whose ratios are less simple than those of the fifth and forth.

{Imperfect flower} (Bot.), a flower wanting either stamens or pistils. --Gray.

{Imperfect interval} (Mus.), one a semitone less than perfect; as, an imperfect fifth.

{Imperfect number} (Math.), a number either greater or less than the sum of its several divisors; in the former case, it is called also a {defective number}; in the latter, an {abundant number}.

{Imperfect obligations} (Law), obligations as of charity or gratitude, which cannot be enforced by law.

{Imperfect power} (Math.), a number which can not be produced by taking any whole number or vulgar fraction, as a factor, the number of times indicated by the power; thus, 9 is a perfect square, but an imperfect cube.

{Imperfect tense} (Gram.), a tense expressing past time and incomplete action. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Imperfect cadence — Cadence Ca dence, n. [OE. cadence, cadens, LL. cadentia a falling, fr. L. cadere to fall; cf. F. cadence, It. cadenza. See {Chance}.] [1913 Webster] 1. The act or state of declining or sinking. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Now was the sun in western… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • imperfect cadence — noun 1. : an authentic or plagal cadence in which the third or the fifth of the final chord appears in the soprano part or in which one or both of the cadential chords are inverted compare perfect cadence; see cadence illustration 2. : half… …   Useful english dictionary

  • imperfect cadence — /ɪmˌpɜfəkt ˈkeɪdns/ (say im.perfuhkt kaydns) noun a cadence in which there is a progression from a tonic chord, or a chord other than dominant or tonic, to the dominant chord …  

  • Cadence — Ca dence, n. [OE. cadence, cadens, LL. cadentia a falling, fr. L. cadere to fall; cf. F. cadence, It. cadenza. See {Chance}.] [1913 Webster] 1. The act or state of declining or sinking. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] Now was the sun in western cadence low …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Imperfect — Im*per fect, a. [L. imperfectus: pref. im not + perfectus perfect: cf. F imparfait, whence OE. imparfit. See {Perfect}.] 1. Not perfect; not complete in all its parts; wanting a part; deective; deficient. [1913 Webster] Something he left… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Imperfect arch — Imperfect Im*per fect, a. [L. imperfectus: pref. im not + perfectus perfect: cf. F imparfait, whence OE. imparfit. See {Perfect}.] 1. Not perfect; not complete in all its parts; wanting a part; deective; deficient. [1913 Webster] Something he… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Imperfect consonances — Imperfect Im*per fect, a. [L. imperfectus: pref. im not + perfectus perfect: cf. F imparfait, whence OE. imparfit. See {Perfect}.] 1. Not perfect; not complete in all its parts; wanting a part; deective; deficient. [1913 Webster] Something he… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Imperfect flower — Imperfect Im*per fect, a. [L. imperfectus: pref. im not + perfectus perfect: cf. F imparfait, whence OE. imparfit. See {Perfect}.] 1. Not perfect; not complete in all its parts; wanting a part; deective; deficient. [1913 Webster] Something he… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Imperfect interval — Imperfect Im*per fect, a. [L. imperfectus: pref. im not + perfectus perfect: cf. F imparfait, whence OE. imparfit. See {Perfect}.] 1. Not perfect; not complete in all its parts; wanting a part; deective; deficient. [1913 Webster] Something he… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Imperfect number — Imperfect Im*per fect, a. [L. imperfectus: pref. im not + perfectus perfect: cf. F imparfait, whence OE. imparfit. See {Perfect}.] 1. Not perfect; not complete in all its parts; wanting a part; deective; deficient. [1913 Webster] Something he… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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