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Webster 1913 Edition

Perennial

Per-en′ni-al

(pĕr-ĕn′nĭ-al)
,
Adj.
[L.
perennis
that lasts the whole year through;
per
through +
annus
year. See
Per-
, and
Annual
.]
1.
Lasting or continuing through the year;
as,
perennial
fountains
.
2.
Continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; unceasing; never failing.
The
perennial
existence of bodies corporate.
Burke.
3.
(Bot.)
Continuing more than two years;
as, a
perennial
steam, or root, or plant
.
Syn. – Perpetual; unceasing; never failing; enduring; continual; permanent; uninterrupted.

Per-en′ni-al

,
Noun.
(Bot.)
A perennial plant; a plant which lives or continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves in winter or not.

Webster 1828 Edition

Perennial

PEREN'NIAL

,
Adj.
[L. perennis; per and annus, a year.]
1.
Lasting or continuing without cessation through the year.
2.
Perpetual; unceasing; never failing.
3.
In botany, continuing more than two years; as a perennial stem or root.
4.
Continuing without intermission; as a fever.

PEREN'NIAL

,
Noun.
In botany, a plant which lives or continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves or not. That which retains its leaves during winter is called an evergreen; that which casts its leaves, deciduous, or a perdifoil.

Definition 2024

perennial

perennial

English

Adjective

perennial ‎(not comparable)

  1. Lasting or remaining active throughout the year, or all the time.
    a perennial stream
  2. (botany, of a plant) Having a life cycle of more than two years. Compare annual, biennial.
  3. (figuratively) Continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; permanent; unceasing; never failing.
  4. (figuratively) Enduring; lasting; timeless.
    His artwork has a perennial beauty.
  5. (figuratively) Recurrent; appearing or recurring again and again.
    Change is a perennial theme in politics.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

perennial ‎(plural perennials)

  1. A perennial plant; a plant that is active throughout the year or survives for more than two growing seasons. Compare annual, biennial.

Translations

Etymology

1644, from Latin perennis ‎(“lasting through the whole year”), from per- ‎(“through”) + annus ‎(“year”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pəˈɹɛni.əl/

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