n.
Pronunciation: p ə - ' re-n ē - ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin perennis, from per- throughout + annus year ― more at PER- , ANNUAL
Date: 1644
1 : present at all seasons of the year
2 : persisting for several years usually with new herbaceous growth from a perennating part < perennial asters>
3 a : PERSISTENT , ENDURING < perennial favorites> b : continuing without interruption : CONSTANT , PERPETUAL <the perennial quest for certainty> <a perennial student> c : regularly repeated or renewed : RECURRENT <death is a perennial literary theme>
synonyms see CONTINUAL
– perennial noun
– pe · ren · ni · al · ly \ -n ē - ə -l ē \ adverb