eternity

[ih-tur-ni-tee]

noun

plural

eternities 

1. infinite time; duration without beginning or end.

2. eternal existence, especially as contrasted with mortal life.

   the eternity of God.

3. Theology.,  the timeless state into which the soul passes at a person's death.

4. an endless or seemingly endless period of time.

   We had to wait an eternity for the check to arrive.

5. eternities, the truths or realities of life and thought that are regarded as timeless or eternal.

eternity

/ ɪˈtɜːnɪtɪ /

noun

1. endless or infinite time

2. the quality, state, or condition of being eternal

3. (usually plural) any of the aspects of life and thought that are considered to be timeless, esp timeless and true

4. theol the condition of timeless existence, believed by some to characterize the afterlife

5. a seemingly endless period of time

   an eternity of waiting

Other Word Forms

• noneternity noun
• preeternity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of eternity¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English eternite, from Latin aeternitās; equivalent to eterne + -ity

Example Sentences

Instead of plopping us into an eternity in media res, Freyne introduces something novel to this process: a choice.

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Teller’s old-school charisma in conveying that nervous energy is his own bid for a career eternity.

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Eloquently connecting a mathematical design to a generative drive, the two add up to eternity.

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The stairwell seems to descend forever, stretching into eternity—which means that this ungodly chase might never end.

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Penelope, Simon, and the Incorrigibles crawled heroically along for nearly twice that long, and one can only imagine what an eternity it seemed to them.

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