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Webster 1913 Edition


Defective

De-fect′ive

,
Adj.
[L.
defectivus
: cf. F.
défectif
. See
Defect
.]
1.
Wanting in something; incomplete; lacking a part; deficient; imperfect; faulty; – applied either to natural or moral qualities;
as, a
defective
limb;
defective
timber; a
defective
copy or account; a
defective
character;
defective
rules.
2.
(Gram.)
Lacking some of the usual forms of declension or conjugation;
as, a
defective
noun or verb
.
De-fect′ive-ly
,
adv.
De-fect′ive-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Defective

DEFECTIVE

, a.
1.
Wanting either in substance, quantity or quality, or in any thing necessary; imperfect; as a defective limb; defective timber; a defective copy or book; a defective account. Defective articulation, in speaking, renders utterance indistinct.
2.
Wanting in moral qualities; faulty; blamable; not conforming to rectitude or rule; as a defective character.
3.
In grammar, a defective noun is one which wants a whole number or a particular case; an indeclinable noun.
4.
A defective verb, is one which wants some of the tenses.

Definition 2024


défective

défective

See also: defective

French

Adjective

défective

  1. feminine singular of défectif