perennial

[puh-ren-ee-uhl]

adjective

lasting for an indefinitely long time; enduring: her perennial beauty.
(of plants) having a life cycle lasting more than two years.
lasting or continuing throughout the entire year, as a stream.

perpetual; everlasting; continuing; recurrent.

noun

a perennial plant: Daffodils and tulips are perennials.
something that is continuing or recurrent.

Origin of perennial

1635–45; < Latin perenni(s) lasting the whole year through (per- per- + -enn-, combining form of annus year + -is adj. suffix) + -al¹

Related formsper·en·ni·al·i·ty, nounper·en·ni·al·ly, adverb

Can be confusedannual perennial

Synonyms for perennial

1. perdurable; constant, incessant, continual. 4. imperishable, undying, eternal, immortal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for perennially

Contemporary Examples of perennially

Since the beginning of the decade, the Badgers have reached the Rose Bowl three times and have perennially been in the Top-25.
How The University of Wisconsin Badgers Are Bucking the Big Ten Ticket Flop
Brian Weidy
October 31, 2014
In the world of video gaming, the debate about violence is perennially argued and never quite resolved.
Playing Violent Video Games Makes You a Better Person, Study Says
Kevin Zawacki
July 4, 2014
Haskins will perennially be attached to the indelible Saved By the Bell principal.
The Most Random Old TV Stars to Appear on ‘Mad Men’
Kevin Fallon
May 29, 2014
Campaign finance issues are perennially a low priority to voters.
The Democrats’ Dumb Koch Strategy
Kristen Soltis Anderson
March 6, 2014
It is exceptionally unconvincing that this is impossible or perennially elusive.
What To Do In Syria
Hussein Ibish
June 28, 2013

Historical Examples of perennially

Mr. Mathews seems to be one of the most perennially juvenile of men.
A Boy's Voyage Round the World
The Son of Samuel Smiles
Amidst all the chances and changes of life, He perennially satisfies.
A Handful of Stars
Frank W. Boreham
And yet, in spite of its monotony, humanity is perennially interesting to itself.
Jewel Weed
Alice Ames Winter
The unknown catches us for an instant, but our own kind are perennially absorbing.
Jewel Weed
Alice Ames Winter
But the bulk of them perennially appears to have been typhus fever.
A History of Epidemics in Britain, Volume II (of 2)
Charles Creighton

British Dictionary definitions for perennially

perennial

adjective

lasting throughout the year or through many years
everlasting; perpetual

noun

a woody or herbaceous plant that can continue its growth for at least two yearsCompare annual (def. 3), biennial (def. 3)

Derived Formsperennially, adverb

Word Origin for perennial

C17: from Latin perennis continual, from per through + annus year

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for perennially

perennial

adj.

1640s, "evergreen," formed in English from Latin perennis "lasting through the year (or years)," from per- "through" (see per) + annus "year" (see annual). Botanical sense of "Remaining alive through a number of years" is attested from 1670s; figurative meaning of "enduring, permanent" is from 1750. Related: Perennially. For vowel change, see biennial. The noun meaning "a perennial plant" is from 1763.

perennially in Science

perennial

[pə-rĕn′ē-əl]

Adjective

Living for three or more years.

Noun

A perennial plant. Herbaceous perennials survive winter and drought as underground roots, rhizomes, bulbs, corms, or tubers. Woody perennials, including vines, shrubs, and trees, usually stop growing during winter and drought. Asters, irises, tulips, and peonies are familiar garden perennials. Compare annual biennial.