perpetual
[per-pech-oo-uhl]
- continuing or enduring forever; everlasting.
- lasting an indefinitely long time: perpetual snow.
- continuing or continued without intermission or interruption; ceaseless: a perpetual stream of visitors all day.
- blooming almost continuously throughout the season or the year.
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- a hybrid rose that is perpetual.
- a perennial plant.
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Origin of perpetual
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
ceaseless, constant, perennial, unceasing, continuous, eternal, persistent, never-ending, incessant, unending, permanent, enduring, infinite, interminable, endless, recurring, continued, abiding, everlasting, immortalExamples from the Web for perpetual
Contemporary Examples
But millions of rules result in perpetual error, and, as a terminal side effect, make leadership and accomplishment illegal.
Big discounts and cheap credit keep them coming back for more; and keep millions in perpetual debt.
Hollande is ‘the king of doublespeak, ambiguity, and perpetual lies’
Hell Hath No Fury Like Valerie Trierweiler, the French President’s ExLizzie Crocker
November 28, 2014
On Wall Street, Bank of America plays a perpetual second fiddle to JPMorgan Chase Co., the only U.S. bank that holds more assets.
Some people upload content to Facebook for the perpetual online access it provides.
Historical Examples
Else, could I hear the perpetual revilings of her implacable family?
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)Samuel Richardson
This perpetual atmosphere of duplicity was positively distasteful.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
It was a perpetual coming and going of fashionable personages.
In the Heart of VosgesMatilda Betham-Edwards
His family were kept in perpetual fear of a ridiculous mesalliance.
Night and Morning, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
In the height of summer might be found there a perpetual shade.
Night and Morning, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
perpetual
- (usually prenominal) eternal; permanent
- (usually prenominal) seemingly ceaseless because often repeatedyour perpetual complaints
- horticulture blooming throughout the growing season or year
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- (of a crop plant) continually producing edible parts: perpetual spinach
- a plant that blooms throughout the growing season
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Word Origin
C14: via Old French from Latin perpetuālis universal, from perpes continuous, from per- (thoroughly) + petere to go towards
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 perpetual
adj.
mid-14c., from Old French perpetuel "without end" (12c.) and directly from Latin perpetualis "universal," in Medieval Latin "permanent," from perpetuus "continuous, universal," from perpetis, genitive of Old Latin perpes "lasting," probably from per- "through" + root of petere "to seek, go to, aim at" (see petition (n.)). Related: Perpetually. Perpetual motion is attested from 1590s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper