perpetual

[per-pech-oo-uhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR perpetual ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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.

noun

a hybrid rose that is perpetual.

a perennial plant.

Origin of perpetual

1300–50; late Middle English perpetuall < Latin perpetuālis permanent, equivalent to perpetu(us) uninterrupted (per- per- + pet-, base of petere to seek, reach for + -uus deverbal adj. suffix) + -ālis -al¹; replacing Middle English perpetuel < Middle French < Latin as above

Related formsper·pet·u·al·i·ty, per·pet·u·al·ness, nounper·pet·u·al·ly, adverbnon·per·pet·u·al, adjectivenon·per·pet·u·al·ly, adverbqua·si-per·pet·u·al, adjectivequa·si-per·pet·u·al·ly, adverb

Synonyms for perpetual

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR perpetual ON THESAURUS.COM

1. permanent, enduring. See eternal. 3. continuous, incessant, constant, unending, uninterrupted.

Antonyms for perpetual

1. temporary. 3. discontinuous.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for perpetual

ceaseless, constant, perennial, unceasing, continuous, eternal, persistent, never-ending, incessant, unending, permanent, enduring, infinite, interminable, endless, recurring, continued, abiding, everlasting, immortal

Examples from the Web for perpetual

Contemporary Examples of perpetual

But millions of rules result in perpetual error, and, as a terminal side effect, make leadership and accomplishment illegal.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans
Philip K. Howard
December 27, 2014
Big discounts and cheap credit keep them coming back for more; and keep millions in perpetual debt.
Christmas Is the New Subprime
Doug McIntyre
December 9, 2014
Hollande is ‘the king of doublespeak, ambiguity, and perpetual lies’
Hell Hath No Fury Like Valerie Trierweiler, the French President’s Ex
Lizzie 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.
Megabanks Have The Federal Prison System Locked Up
Center for Public Integrity
October 2, 2014
Some people upload content to Facebook for the perpetual online access it provides.
Porn Stars Want to Know: Why Did Facebook Delete Me?
Aurora Snow
August 2, 2014

Historical Examples of perpetual

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.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
It was a perpetual coming and going of fashionable personages.
In the Heart of Vosges
Matilda Betham-Edwards
In the height of summer might be found there a perpetual shade.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
His family were kept in perpetual fear of a ridiculous mesalliance.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for perpetual

perpetual

adjective

(usually prenominal) eternal; permanent

(usually prenominal) seemingly ceaseless because often repeatedyour perpetual complaints

horticulture blooming throughout the growing season or year

noun

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

a plant that blooms throughout the growing season

Derived Formsperpetually, adverb

Word Origin for perpetual

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.