—Synonyms 1. permanent, unending. Eternal,endless,everlasting,perpetual imply lasting or going on without ceasing. That which is eternal is, by its nature, without beginning or end: God, the eternal Father. That which is endless never stops but goes on continuously as if in a circle: an endless succession of years. That which is everlasting will endure through all future time: a promise of everlasting life. Perpeptual implies continuous renewal as far into the future as one can foresee: perpetual strife between nations. 3. timeless, immortal, deathless, undying, imperishable, indestructible.
c.1366 (in variant form eterne), from O.Fr. eternal, from L.L. æternalis, from L. æternus contraction of æviternus "of great age," from ævum "age." Eternity first attested c.1374. In the Mercian hymns, L. æternum is glossed by O.E. ecnisse.
continuing forever or indefinitely; "the ageless themes of love and revenge"; "eternal truths"; "life everlasting"; "hell's perpetual fires"; "the unending bliss of heaven" [syn: ageless]
E*tern"\ or Eterne \E*terne"\, a. [OF. eterne, L. aeternus, for aeviturnus, fr. aevum age. See Age, and cf. Eternal.] Eternal. [Poetic] --Shak. Built up to eterne significance. --Mrs. Browning.
E*ter"nal\, a. [F. ['e]ternel, L. aeternalis, fr. aeternus. See Etern.]1. Without beginning or end of existence; always existing. The eternal God is thy refuge. --Deut. xxxiii. 27. To know wether there were any real being, whose duration has been eternal. --Locke. 2. Without end of existence or duration; everlasting; endless; immortal. That they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. --2 Tim. ii. 10. 3. Continued without intermission; perpetual; ceaseless; constant. And fires eternal in thy temple shine. --Dryden. 4. Existing at all times without change; immutable. Hobbes believed the eternal truths which he opposed. --Dryden. What are the eternal objects of poetry among all nations, and at all times? --M. Arnold. 5. Exceedingly great or bad; -- used as a strong intensive. "Some eternal villain." The Eternal City, an appellation of Rome. Syn: Everlasting; endless; infinite; ceaseless; perpetual; interminable. See Everlasting.
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