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Definition of perpetual - 4 dictionary results
per⋅pet⋅u⋅al
[per-pech-oo-uh
l] 
–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
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
Related forms:
per⋅pet⋅u⋅al⋅i⋅ty, per⋅pet⋅u⋅al⋅ness, noun
per⋅pet⋅u⋅al⋅ly, adverb
Synonyms:
1. permanent, enduring. See eternal. 3. continuous, incessant, constant, unending, uninterrupted.
1. permanent, enduring. See eternal. 3. continuous, incessant, constant, unending, uninterrupted.
Antonyms:
1. temporary. 3. discontinuous.
1. temporary. 3. discontinuous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To perpetual
| per·pet·u·al (pər-pěch'ōō-əl) adj.
[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. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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