aeviternity

Meanings

1. Synonym of eternity (“existence without end”).
2. Synonym of aevum (“the temporal mode of existence between time and eternity, said to be experienced by angels, saints, and celestial bodies (which medieval astronomy believed to be unchanging)”).

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin aeviternus (“eternal, perpetual”) + English -ity (suffix forming nouns, especially abstract nouns), probably modelled after eternity. Aeviternus is derived from aevum (“infinite time; eternity, timelessness; undefined long period of time, age, era; generation, lifespan, lifetime; temporal mode of existence between time and eternity”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- (“age; eternity; life, vital force”)) + -rnus (suffix forming adjectives). Doublet of aevum and aye.