English Explanatory Dictionary

eternal

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Lasting forever; unending.
  2. Existing outside time; as opposed to sempiternal, existing within time but everlastingly.
  3. Constant; perpetual; ceaseless; ever-present.
  4. Exceedingly great or bad; used as an intensifier.
noun
  1. One who lives forever; an immortal.

Pronunciation

/ɪˈtɜː.nl̩/ /ɪˈtɝ.nl̩/ /iˈtɝ.nl̩/ en-us-eternal.ogg

Word forms

eternal more eternal most eternal æternal æternall eternall eternals

Etymology

From Middle English eternal, from Old French eternal, from Late Latin aeternālis, from Latin aeternus (“eternal”), from aevum (“age”). Displaced native Old English ēċe.

Synonyms

ageful agelong amaranthine celestial endless enduring eternal eterne everduring evergreen everlasting eviternal forever heavenly imperishable indesinent lasting never-ending perennial permanent perpetual perpetuate persistent sempiternal timeless unending undeadly undying atemporal achronic extratemporal awful

Antonyms

ephemeral fleeting impermanent mortal momentary temporary transient unperpetual unperpetuated earthly brief deciduous evanescent flying fugacious fugitive instant passing perishable quick seasonable short short-lived transitive transitory volatile whilend worldly

Related words

boundless ceaseless continual incessant infinite interminable limitless unceasing unlimited eternalize eternity continuous

Derived words

coeternal crater of eternal darkness eternal black hole eternalism eternalist eternality eternalize eternal life eternally eternal marriage eternalness eternal now eternal recurrence eternal rest eternal return Eternal September eternal sin eternal sleep eternal triangle hope springs eternal hope springs eternal in the human breast life eternal noneternal on eternal patrol peak of eternal light supereternal uneternal
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