pluperfect Definition

pluperfect
adj

1. Said of the tense of a verb: formed in English by the auxiliary verb had and a past participle, and referring to action already accomplished at the time of a past action being referred to, as in They had often gone there before, but this time they lost their way.

noun

1a. The pluperfect tense;
1b. A verb in the pluperfect tense. Compare past, present, future, perfect, imperfect.

Etymology: 16c: contracted from Latin plus quam perfectum more than perfect.