perpetual
pronunciation
How to pronounce perpetual in British English:
UK [pəˈpetʃuəl]
How to pronounce perpetual in American English:
US [pərˈpetʃuəl]
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- Adjective:
- continuing forever or indefinitely
- uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
- occurring so frequently as to seem ceaseless or uninterrupted
Word Origin
- perpetual
- perpetual: see repeat
- perpetual (adj.)
- mid-14c., from Old French perpetuel "without end" (12c.) and directly from Latin perpetualis "universal," in Medieval Latin "permanent," from perpetuus "continuous, universal," from perpetis, genitive of Old Latin perpes "lasting," probably from per- "through" + root of petere "to seek, go to, aim at" (see petition (n.)). Related: Perpetually. Perpetual motion is attested from 1590s.
Example
- 1. Investors in singapore recently could buy so-called perpetual bonds through automated teller machines .
- 2. Perpetual thrust and parry amongst exchanges has occurred in every major financial jurisdiction .
- 3. Proper democracy is far more than a perpetual ballot process .
- 4. This has led to an almost perpetual questioning of the mba curriculum .
- 5. Most of sub-saharan africa seems to be sunk in a perpetual drought that has fed a numbing series of civil wars .