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Webster 1913 Edition


Perpetual

Per-pet′u-al

,
Adj.
[OE.
perpetuel
, F.
perpétuel
, fr. L.
perpetualis
, fr.
perpetuus
continuing throughout, continuous, fr.
perpes
,
-etis
, lasting throughout.]
Neverceasing; continuing forever or for an unlimited time; unfailing; everlasting; continuous.
Unto the kingdom of
perpetual
night.
Shakespeare
Perpetual
feast of nectared sweets.
Milton.
Circle of perpetual apparition
, or
Circle of perpetual occultation
.
See under
Circle
.
Perpetual calendar
,
a calendar so devised that it may be adjusted for any month or year.
Perpetual curacy
(Ch. of Eng.)
,
a curacy in which all the tithes are appropriated, and no vicarage is endowed.
Blackstone.
Perpetual motion
.
See under
Motion
.
Perpetual screw
.
See
Endless screw
, under
Screw
.
Syn. – Continual; unceasing; endless; everlasting; incessant; constant; eternal. See
Constant
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Perpetual

PERPET'UAL

,
Adj.
[L. perpetuus, from perpes, perpetis; per and pes, from a root signifying to pass.]
1.
Never ceasing; continuing forever in future time; destined to be eternal; as a perpetual covenant; a perpetual statute.
[Literally true with respect to the decrees of the Supreme Being.]
2.
Continuing or continued without intermission; uninterrupted; as a perpetual stream; the perpetual action of the heart and arteries.
3.
Permanent; fixed; not temporary; as a perpetual law or edict; perpetual love or amity, perpetual incense. Ex.30.
4.
Everlasting; endless.
Destructions are come to a perpetual end. Ps.9.
5.
During the legal dispensation. Ex.29.
Perpetual curacy, is where all the tithes are appropriated and no vicarage is endowed.
Perpetual motion, motion that generates a power of continuing itself forever or indefinitely, by means of mechanism or some application of the force of gravity; not yet discovered,and probably impossible.
Perpetual screw, a screw that acts against the teeth of a wheel and continues its action without end.

Definition 2024


perpetual

perpetual

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

perpetual (not comparable)

  1. Lasting forever, or for an indefinitely long time
  2. Set up to be in effect or have tenure for an unlimited duration
  3. Continuing uninterrupted
  4. Flowering throughout the growing season
    • By means of artificial hybridization, practised for a series of years, he has succeeded in producing a race of carnations which are perpetual bloomers.
    • The hybrid perpetual roses as a rule require to be pruned to within 4 to 6 inches of the ground.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

References

  1. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/perpetual?fromRef=true http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/motion http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=perpetual&searchmode=none

Catalan

Adjective

perpetual m, f (masculine and feminine plural perpetuals)

  1. perpetual

Synonyms