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Definition of perpetual - 4 dictionary results

per⋅pet⋅u⋅al

[per-pech-oo-uhl]
–adjective
1. continuing or enduring forever; everlasting.
2. lasting an indefinitely long time: perpetual snow.
3. continuing or continued without intermission or interruption; ceaseless: a perpetual stream of visitors all day.
4. blooming almost continuously throughout the season or the year.
–noun
5. a hybrid rose that is perpetual.
6. a perennial plant.

Origin:
1300–50; late ME perpetuall < L perpetuālis permanent, equiv. to perpetu(us) uninterrupted (per- per- + pet-, base of petere to seek, reach for + -uus deverbal adj. suffix) + -ālis -al 1 ; r. ME perpetuel < MF < L as above


per⋅pet⋅u⋅al⋅i⋅ty, per⋅pet⋅u⋅al⋅ness, noun
per⋅pet⋅u⋅al⋅ly, adverb


1. permanent, enduring. See eternal. 3. continuous, incessant, constant, unending, uninterrupted.


1. temporary. 3. discontinuous.
per·pet·u·al   (pər-pěch'ōō-əl)   
adj.  
  1. Lasting for eternity.
  2. Continuing or lasting for an indefinitely long time.
  3. Instituted to be in effect or have tenure for an unlimited duration: a treaty of perpetual friendship.
  4. Continuing without interruption. See Synonyms at continual.
  5. Flowering throughout the growing season.

[Middle English perpetuel, from Old French, from Latin perpetuālis, from perpetuus, continuous : per-, per- + petere, to go toward; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]
per·pet'u·al·ly adv.

Perpetual

Per*pet"u*al\, a. [OE. perpetuel, F. perp['e]tuel, fr. L. perpetualis, fr. perpetuus continuing throughout, continuous, fr. perpes, -etis, lasting throughout.] Neverceasing; continuing forever or for an unlimited time; unfailing; everlasting; continuous.

Unto the kingdom of perpetual night. --Shak.

Perpetual feast of nectared sweets. --Milton.

Circle of perpetual apparition, or occultation. See under Circle.

Perpetual calendar, a calendar so devised that it may be adjusted for any month or year.

Perpetual curacy (Ch. of Eng.), a curacy in which all the tithes are appropriated, and no vicarage is endowed. --Blackstone.

Perpetual motion. See under Motion.

Perpetual screw. See Endless screw, under Screw.

Syn: Continual; unceasing; endless; everlasting; incessant; constant; eternal. See Constant.
Language Translation for : perpetual
Spanish: perpetuo, eterno, continuo,
German: fortwährend,
Japanese: 絶え間のない

perpetual 
c.1340, from O.Fr. perpetuel (12c.), from L. perpetualis "universal," in M.L. "permanent," from perpetuus "continuous, universal," from perpetis, gen. of Old L. perpes "lasting," probably from per- "through" + root of petere "to seek, go to, aim at" (see petition). The verb perpetuate is first recorded 1530; perpetuity is from 1406. Perpetual motion is attested from 1593.
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