Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Permanent
Per′ma-nent
,Adj.
[L.
permanens
, -entis
, p. pr. of permanere
to stay or remain to the end, to last; per + manere
to remain: cf. F. permanent
. See Per-
, and Mansion
.] Continuing in the same state, or without any change that destroys form or character; remaining unaltered or unremoved; abiding; durable; fixed; stable; lasting;
as, a
. permanent
impressionEternity stands
permanent
and fixed. Dryden.
Permanent gases
(Chem. & Physics)
, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide; – also called
– incondensible gases
or incoercible gases
, before their liquefaction in 1877. The term is now archaic. Permanent way
, the roadbed and superstructure of a finished railway; – so called in distinction from the contractor’s
– temporary way
. Permanent white
(Chem.)
, barium sulphate (
heavy spar
), used as a white pigment or paint, in distinction from white lead
, which tarnishes and darkens from the formation of the sulphide.
Syn. – Lasting; durable; constant. See
Lasting
. Webster 1828 Edition
Permanent
PER'MANENT
,Adj.
Durable; lasting; continuing in the same state, or without any change that destroys the form or nature of the thing. The laws, like the character of God, are unalterably permanent. Human laws and institutions may be to a degree permanent, but they are subject to change and overthrow. We speak of a permanent wall or building, a permanent bridge, when they are so constructed as to endure long; in which examples,permanent is equivalent to durable or lasting, but not to undecaying or unalterable. So we say, a permanent residence, a permanent intercourse, permanent friendship,when it continues a long time without interruption.