Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Eternal

E-ter′nal

,
Adj.
[F.
éternel
, L.
aeternalis
, fr.
aeternus
. See
Etern
.]
1.
Without beginning or end of existence; always existing.
The
eternal
God is thy refuge.
Deut. xxxiii. 27.
To know wether there were any real being, whose duration has been
eternal
.
Locke.
2.
Without end of existence or duration; everlasting; endless; immortal.
That they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with
eternal
glory.
2 Tim. ii. 10.
3.
Continued without intermission; perpetual; ceaseless; constant.
And fires
eternal
in thy temple shine.
Dryden.
4.
Existing at all times without change; immutable.
Hobbes believed the
eternal
truths which he opposed.
Dryden.
What are the
eternal
objects of poetry among all nations, and at all times?
M. Arnold.
5.
Exceedingly great or bad; – used as a strong intensive.
“Some eternal villain.”
Syn. – Everlasting; endless; infinite; ceaseless; perpetual; interminable. See
Everlasting
.

E-ter′nal

,
Noun.
1.
One of the appellations of God.
Law whereby the
Eternal
himself doth work.
Hooker.
2.
That which is endless and immortal.
Young.

Webster 1828 Edition


Eternal

ETER'NAL

,
Adj.
[L. oeternus, composed of oevum and ternus, oeviternus, Varro. The origin of the last component part of the word is not obvious. It occurs in diuturnus, and seems to denote continuance.]
1.
Without beginning or end of existence.
The eternal God is thy refuge. Deut.33.
2.
Without beginning of existence.
To know whether there is any real being, whose duration has been eternal.
3.
Without end of existence or duration; everlasting; endless; immortal.
That they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 2 Tim.2.
What shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Matt.19.
Suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude 7.
4.
Perpetual; ceaseless; continued without intermission.
And fires eternal in thy temple shine.
5.
Unchangeable; existing at all times without change; as eternal truth.

ETER'NAL

,
Noun.
An appellation of God.

Definition 2024


eternal

eternal

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

eternal (not comparable)

  1. Lasting forever; unending.
    • John Locke
      to know whether there were any real being, whose duration has been eternal
    • Dryden
      Fires eternal in thy temple shine.
    • 2012 May 27, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992)”, in The Onion AV Club:
      In a bid to understand the eternal mystery that is woman, Bart goes to the least qualified possible source for advice and counsel: his father, who remarkably seems to have made it to his mid-30s without quite figuring out much of anything.
  2. (philosophy) existing outside time; as opposed to sempiternal, existing within time but everlastingly
  3. (dated) Exceedingly great or bad; used as an intensifier.
    some eternal villain

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams


Catalan

Adjective

eternal m, f (masculine and feminine plural eternals)

  1. eternal

Synonyms


Spanish

Adjective

eternal m, f (plural eternales)

  1. eternal

Synonyms