perpetual

[ per-pech-oo-uhl ]
/ pərˈpɛtʃ u əl /

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

SYNONYMS FOR perpetual

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

ANTONYMS FOR perpetual

1 temporary.
3 discontinuous.

OTHER WORDS FROM perpetual

Words nearby perpetual

perpend, perpendicular, perpent, perpetrate, perpetrator, perpetual, perpetual adoration, perpetual calendar, perpetual check, perpetual debenture, perpetual inventory

British Dictionary definitions for non-perpetual

perpetual
/ (pəˈpɛtjʊəl) /

adjective

(usually prenominal) eternal; permanent
(usually prenominal) seemingly ceaseless because often repeated your 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 forms of perpetual

perpetually, adverb

Word Origin for perpetual

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