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 time
2 : occurring continually : indefinitely long-continued <perpetual problems>
3 : blooming continuously throughout the season

synonyms see continual

— per·pet·u·al·ly adverb