perpetual

[ per-pech-oo-uhl ]
See synonyms for: perpetualperpetualsperpetually on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. continuing or enduring forever; everlasting.

  2. lasting an indefinitely long time: perpetual snow.

  1. continuing or continued without intermission or interruption; ceaseless: a perpetual stream of visitors all day.

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

noun
  1. a hybrid rose that is perpetual.

  2. a perennial plant.

Origin of perpetual

1
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; see per-, -al1

synonym study For perpetual

1. See eternal.

Other words for perpetual

Opposites for perpetual

Other words from perpetual

  • per·pet·u·al·i·ty, per·pet·u·al·ness, noun
  • per·pet·u·al·ly, adverb
  • non·per·pet·u·al, adjective
  • qua·si-per·pet·u·al, adjective

Words Nearby perpetual

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use perpetual in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for perpetual

perpetual

/ (pəˈpɛtjʊəl) /


adjective
  1. (usually prenominal) eternal; permanent

  2. (usually prenominal) seemingly ceaseless because often repeated: your perpetual complaints

  1. 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

Origin of perpetual

1
C14: via Old French from Latin perpetuālis universal, from perpes continuous, from per- (thoroughly) + petere to go towards

Derived forms of perpetual

  • perpetually, adverb

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