Tense, as all of us are? (9)

I believe the answer is:

imperfect

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'tense' is the definition.
(imperfect tense is a kind of tense)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for imperfect that I've seen before include "Having faults" , "Deficient" , "Flawed, defective" , "seconds" , "Faulty; tense" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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