Main Entry:

per·pet·u·al

Pronunciation:

\pər-ˈpe-chə-wəl, -chəl; -ˈpech-wəl\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English perpetuel, from Anglo-French, from Latin perpetuus uninterrupted, from per- through + petere to go to — more at feather

Date:

14th century

1 a: continuing forever : everlasting <perpetual motion> b (1): valid for all time <a perpetual right> (2): holding (as an office) for life or for an unlimited time2: occurring continually : indefinitely long-continued <perpetual problems>3: blooming continuously throughout the season

synonyms see continual

— per·pet·u·al·ly adverb