Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
perpetual [per-pech-oo-uhl] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin adjective
- continuing or enduring forever; everlasting.
- lasting an indefinitely long time: perpetual snow.
- continuing or continued without intermission or interruption; ceaseless: a perpetual stream of visitors all day.
- blooming almost continuously throughout the season or the year.
noun
- a hybrid rose that is perpetual.
- a perennial plant.
Origin of perpetual 1300–50; late Middle English perpetuall Latin perpetuālis permanent, equivalent to perpetu(us) uninterrupted (per- per- + pet-, base of petere to seek, reach for + -uus deverbal adj. suffix) + -ālis -al1; replacing Middle English perpetuel Middle French Latin as aboveRelated formsper·pet·u·al·i·ty, per·pet·u·al·ness, nounper·pet·u·al·ly, adverbnon·per·pet·u·al, adjectivenon·per·pet·u·al·ly, adverbqua·si-per·pet·u·al, adjectivequa·si-per·pet·u·al·ly, adverbSynonyms for perpetual 1. permanent, enduring. See eternal. 3. continuous, incessant, constant, unending, uninterrupted.Antonyms for perpetual 1. temporary. 3. discontinuous. Examples from the Web for perpetuality Historical Examples of perpetuality
The perpetuality of towns was recognized by statutes of 1391, which compared town-held property to church-held property.
S. A. Reilly
British Dictionary definitions for perpetuality perpetual adjective
- (usually prenominal) eternal; permanent
- (usually prenominal) seemingly ceaseless because often repeatedyour perpetual complaints
- horticulture blooming throughout the growing season or year
noun
- (of a crop plant) continually producing edible parts: perpetual spinach
- a plant that blooms throughout the growing season
Derived Formsperpetually, adverbWord Origin for perpetual C14: via Old French from Latin perpetuālis universal, from perpes continuous, from per- (thoroughly) + petere to go towards Word Origin and History for perpetuality perpetual adj.
mid-14c., from Old French perpetuel “without end” (12c.) and directly from Latin perpetualis “universal,” in Medieval Latin “permanent,” from perpetuus “continuous, universal,” from perpetis, genitive of Old Latin perpes “lasting,” probably from per- “through” + root of petere “to seek, go to, aim at” (see petition (n.)). Related: Perpetually. Perpetual motion is attested from 1590s.