perennial
[puh-ren-ee-uh l]
- 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.
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- a perennial plant: Daffodils and tulips are perennials.
- something that is continuing or recurrent.
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Origin of perennial
Synonyms
See more synonyms for perennial on Thesaurus.com1. 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
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 FlopBrian Weidy
October 31, 2014
In the world of video gaming, the debate about violence is perennially argued and never quite resolved.
Haskins will perennially be attached to the indelible Saved By the Bell principal.
Campaign finance issues are perennially a low priority to voters.
It is exceptionally unconvincing that this is impossible or perennially elusive.
Historical Examples
Mr. Mathews seems to be one of the most perennially juvenile of men.
A Boy's Voyage Round the WorldThe Son of Samuel Smiles
Amidst all the chances and changes of life, He perennially satisfies.
A Handful of StarsFrank W. Boreham
And yet, in spite of its monotony, humanity is perennially interesting to itself.
Jewel WeedAlice Ames Winter
The unknown catches us for an instant, but our own kind are perennially absorbing.
Jewel WeedAlice 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
perennial
- lasting throughout the year or through many years
- everlasting; perpetual
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- a woody or herbaceous plant that can continue its growth for at least two yearsCompare annual (def. 3), biennial (def. 3)
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Word Origin
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
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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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
perennial
[pə-rĕn′ē-əl]
- Living for three or more years.
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- 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.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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