in perpetuity

per·pe·tu·i·ty

[pur-pi-too-i-tee, -tyoo-]
noun, plural per·pe·tu·i·ties.
1.
the state or character of being perpetual (often preceded by in ): to desire happiness in perpetuity.
2.
endless or indefinitely long duration or existence; eternity.
3.
something that is perpetual.
4.
an annuity paid for life.
5.
Law. an interest under which property is less than completely alienable for longer than the law allows.

Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English perpetuite < Latin perpetuitās. See perpetual, -ity

non·per·pe·tu·i·ty, noun, plural non·per·pe·tu·i·ties.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To in perpetuity
00:10
In perpetuity is always a great word to know.
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
a printed punctuation mark (‽), available only in some typefaces, designed to combine the question mark (?) and the exclamation point (!), indicating a mixture of query and interjection, as after a rhetorical question.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
Collins
World English Dictionary
perpetuity (ˌpɜːpɪˈtjuːɪtɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n , pl -ties
1.  eternity
2.  the state or quality of being perpetual
3.  property law a limitation preventing the absolute disposal of an estate for longer than the period allowed by law
4.  an annuity with no maturity date and payable indefinitely
5.  in perpetuity for ever
 
[C15: from Old French perpetuite, from Latin perpetuitās continuity; see perpetual]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

perpetuity
c.1400; see perpetual.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

in perpetuity

For all time, forever, as in This land was given to the state in perpetuity. [First half of 1400s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT