A defective verb is a verb that only partially exists anymore. All tenses or persons are no longer used for these tenses.
Here are some examples of defective verbs:
- gésir: mostly used in the expression "ci-git". It is still found in the present tense and the imperfect, but no longer in the other forms: je gis, je gisais.
- férir: Férir is used for its past participle "feru" de (passionate about) and for the expression "sans coup férir" meaning that it was not necessary to use iron to win the victory.
- chaloir: only used in form "peu lui chaut" : never mind.
- seoir: only used in simple forms: il sied
- occire: only used in infinitive and past participle "occis".
A defective verb is a verb that is now only used in certain forms.