permanent

[pur-muh-nuhnt]

adjective

existing perpetually; everlasting, especially without significant change.

intended to exist or function for a long, indefinite period without regard to unforeseeable conditions: a permanent employee; the permanent headquarters of the United Nations.

long-lasting or nonfading: permanent pleating; permanent ink.

noun

Also called permanent wave. a wave or curl that is set into the hair by the application of a special chemical preparation and that remains for a number of months.

Origin of permanent

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin permanent- (stem of permanēns), present participle of permanēre to remain. See per-, remain, -ent

Related formsper·ma·nent·ly, adverbper·ma·nent·ness, nounnon·per·ma·nent, adjectivenon·per·ma·nent·ly, adverbpseu·do·per·ma·nent, adjectivequa·si-per·ma·nent, adjectivequa·si-per·ma·nent·ly, adverbsub·per·ma·nent, adjectivesub·per·ma·nent·ly, adverbun·per·ma·nent, adjectiveun·per·ma·nent·ly, adverb

Synonyms for permanent

1. stable, invariable, constant.

Antonyms for permanent

1. temporary; inconstant.

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

British Dictionary definitions for quasi-permanent

permanent

adjective

existing or intended to exist for an indefinite perioda permanent structure

not expected to change for an indefinite time; not temporarya permanent condition

Derived Formspermanently, adverb

Word Origin for permanent

C15: from Latin permanens continuing, from permanēre to stay to the end, from per- through + manēre to remain

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 quasi-permanent

permanent

adj.

early 15c., from Middle French permanent (14c.) or directly from Latin permanentem (nominative permanens) "remaining," present participle of permanere "endure, hold out, continue, stay to the end," from per- "through" (see per) + manere "stay" (see mansion). As a noun meaning "permanent wave," by 1909. Of clothing, permanent press attested from 1964.