perpetual

[per-pech-oo-uhl]

adjective

1. continuing or enduring forever; everlasting.

   Synonyms: enduring, permanent
   Antonyms: temporary

2. lasting an indefinitely long time.

   perpetual snow.

3. continuing or continued without intermission or interruption; ceaseless.

   a perpetual stream of visitors all day.

   Synonyms: uninterrupted, unending, constant, incessant, continuous
   Antonyms: discontinuous

4. blooming almost continuously throughout the season or the year.

noun

1. a hybrid rose that is perpetual.

2. a perennial plant.

perpetual

/ pəˈpɛtjʊəl /

adjective

1. (usually prenominal) eternal; permanent

2. (usually prenominal) seemingly ceaseless because often repeated

   your perpetual complaints

3. horticulture blooming throughout the growing season or year

noun

1. (of a crop plant) continually producing edible parts: perpetual spinach

2. a plant that blooms throughout the growing season

Other Word Forms

• perpetuality noun
• perpetualness noun
• perpetually adverb
• nonperpetual adjective
• quasi-perpetual adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perpetual¹

First recorded in 1300–50; late Middle English perpetuall, from Latin perpetuālis “permanent, universal, general,” equivalent to perpetu(us) “continuous, uninterrupted” ( per- “through, thoroughly” + pet-, base of petere “to seek, reach for” + -uus adjective suffix derived from a verb) + -ālis adjective suffix; replacing Middle English perpetuel, from Middle French, from Latin as above; per-, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of perpetual¹

C14: via Old French from Latin perpetuālis universal, from perpes continuous, from per- (thoroughly) + petere to go towards

Synonym Study

See eternal.

Example Sentences

As if “Boogie Nights” wasn’t audacious enough, Anderson boldly followed it up with a film of naked vulnerability: an emotional weather report unafraid to risk embarrassment in examining a perpetual dark night of the soul.

From Los Angeles Times

He quickly rose to become a top organizer and leader in the party’s perpetual street fighting with political opponents, especially socialists and communists.

From Salon

Sheep are simultaneously fluffy and unsettling owing to their perpetual smirk.

From Salon

"Our children deserve better than perpetual crisis; they deserve strategic planning, adequate resources and the dignity of advance preparation."

From BBC

The situation has thrust the Latinas who hold up the nation’s child care sector into a perpetual state of panic.

From Salon

Related Words

• ceaseless 
• constant 
• continued 
• continuous 
• endless 
• enduring 
• eternal 
• incessant 
• infinite 
• interminable 
• never-ending 
• perennial 
• permanent 
• persistent 
• recurring 
• unceasing 
• unending