See Also: pluperfect(dictionary)
pluperfect(dictionary)

pluperfect (iou)



pluperfect adjective & noun. L15.
[mod. Latin plusperfectum from Latin (tempus praeteritum) plus quam perfectum (past tense) more than perfect translating Greek. (khronos) hupersuntelikos: cf. French plus-que-parfait.]
A. adjective.
Grammar. Of a tense: designating a time or action completed prior to some past point of time specified or implied; past perfect. L15.
Orig., superfluous. Later, more than perfect; colloq. complete, thorough. E19.
Accountancy Jones recently described the period..as 'pluperfect hell' for companies while Europe adjusts to the single market.
b. noun. Grammar. (A word or form in) the pluperfect (past perfect) tense. M19.