sempiternal

[ sem-pi-tur-nl ]

/ ˌsɛm pɪˈtɜr nl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR sempiternal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Literary.

everlasting; eternal.

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Nearby words

Origin of sempiternal

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin sempiternālis, equivalent to Latin sempitern(us) everlasting semp(er) always + -i- -i- + -ternus suffix of temporal adjectives; see eterne) + -ālis -al¹

Related formssem·pi·ter·nal·ly, adverb

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

Examples from the Web for sempiternal

This he will only have by inaction, by mewing his sempiternal youth in his cage and on his perch.
Lore of Proserpine|Maurice Hewlett
The breath of brooks caressed him, he was enveloped in the sorceries of a sempiternal spring.
The Truth About Tristrem Varick|Edgar Saltus
Nevertheless, there is not a single legitimate government, in spite of their sempiternal principles.
Sentimental Education Vol 1|Gustave Flaubert
Madame d'Argeles's sempiternal smile had altogether disappeared.
The Count's Millions|Emile Gaboriau

O most orient clearness, and light shining of the sempiternal brightness!
Everyman and Other Old Religious Plays, with an Introduction|Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for sempiternal

sempiternal

/ (ˌsɛmpɪˈtɜːnəl) /

adjective

literary everlasting; eternal

Derived Formssempiternally, adverbsempiternity (ˌsɛmpɪˈtɜːnɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for sempiternal

C15: from Old French sempiternel, from Late Latin sempiternālis, from Latin sempiternus, from semper always + aeternus eternal

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 sempiternal

sempiternal

adj.

c.1400, from Old French sempiternel "eternal, everlasting" (13c.) or directly from Late Latin sempiternalis, from Latin sempiternus "everlasting," from semper "always, ever" (see semper-) + aeternus "eternal" (see eternal). Related: Sempiternally.