See Also: eternal(dictionary)
eternal(dictionary)
Eternal City(dictionary)
eternal triangle(dictionary)

eternal (iou)



eternal adjective, noun, & adverb. LME.
[Old French eternal, -nel (mod. eternel) from late Latin aeternalis, from Latin aeternus contr. of aeviternus eternal, from aevum age: see -AL1.]
A. adjective.
That will always exist; that has always existed; without a beginning or an end in time; everlasting. LME.
eternal life: see LIFE noun.
b. Pertaining to eternal things; having eternal consequences. E17.
c. Not conditioned by time; not subject to time relations. M17.
Permanent; enduring. L15.
the Eternal City: see CITY noun.
J. P. Curran The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance. A. Alison Summits..wrapped in eternal snow. O. Manning He'd..have wasted his life as a sort of eternal student.
b. Having a persistent resolve. rare (Shakes.). Only in E17.
c. Tediously persistent; recurring, incessant. L18.
eternal triangle a relationship of three people involving sexual rivalry.
C. McCullough Their palates longed for a change from the eternal round of..mutton chops, mutton stew.
Infernal; extremely abhorrent. Now slang or dial. L16.
Of a truth, principle, etc.: valid for all time; immutable, unalterable. L17.
b. noun.
the Eternal, God, the Deity. L16.
Eternity, endless time. Chiefly in from eternal. E17-M18.
In pl. Eternal things. M17.
C. adverb. Eternally, for ever. E17.
eternalism noun (a) eternalness; an eternal character or nature; (b) Philosophy the belief that the universe has no beginning and no end: L19.
eter'nality noun = eternalness L15.
eternally adverb (a) throughout eternity, for ever; (b) continually, incessantly; (c) immutably: LME.
eternalness noun the state or quality of being eternal M18.