adj.
Pronunciation: p ə r- ' pe-ch ə -w ə l, -ch ə l; - ' pech-w ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English perpetuel, from Anglo-French, from Latin perpetuus uninterrupted, from per- through + petere to go to ― more at FEATHER
Date: 14th century
1 a : continuing forever : EVERLASTING < perpetual motion> b (1) : valid for all time <a perpetual right> (2) : holding (as an office) for life or for an unlimited time
2 : occurring continually : indefinitely long-continued < perpetual problems>
3 : blooming continuously throughout the season
synonyms see CONTINUAL
– per · pet · u · al · ly adverb