PLUPERFECT Definition & Meaning

pluperfect

[ploo-pur-fikt]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Grammar.

Also past perfect a verb construction, in English made up of the past tense auxiliary verb had followed by the past participle of the main verb, used to express an action or state that was already complete before a particular point of reference in the past, such as He had cleaned the place up before I arrived and Yesterday she told me she had been in the hospital for a week.

adjective

Grammar.��null past perfect designating a verb construction used to express an action or state that was already complete before a particular point of reference in the past.
more than perfect.
He spoke the language with pluperfect precision.

pluperfect

/ ��ːˈ��ɜː��ɪ�� /

adjective

grammar another term for past perfect

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of pluperfect¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin plū(s quam) perfectum “(more than) perfect,” translation of Greek ��Գٱ��ó��; plus ( def. ), perfect ( def. )

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of pluperfect¹

C16: from the Latin phrase plūs quam perfectum more than perfect

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Gable is pluperfect and gives a brilliant performance.

From

I can accurately conjugate most any verb, including “to lie,” which gets pretty complex in the pluperfect.

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He seems to have as many friends as his pluperfect self-centeredness allows, and as he has earned in an entirely transactional life.

From

The past-of-the-past is called the pluperfect, and it is formed with the auxiliary had, as in I had already eaten.

From

Poutine seems like the pluperfect beer sponge — squeaky cheese curds and hot gravy spilled over a Jenga pile of crispy fries.

From

pluot plupf.

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