I. pə(r)ˈpech(əw)əl, -chwəl adjective
Etymology: Middle English perpetuel, from Middle French, from Latin perpetualis, from perpetuus continuous, perpetual (from perpet-, perpes, from per through, by means of + -pet-, -pes, from petere to go to or toward, seek) + -alis -al — more at for , feather
1.
a. : continuing forever : everlasting , eternal , unceasing
perpetual torment after death — H.O.Taylor
dedicated to a life of perpetual virginity — J.G.Frazer
the song of the minstrel moved through a perpetual Maytime — J.R.Green
b.
(1) : granted to be valid for all time
was awarded a perpetual right-of-way
granted a perpetual charter by the national government — C.W.Ferguson
(2) : holding (as an office) for life or for an unlimited time
perpetual curate
perpetual president of a club
elected perpetual fellow — A.G.Chester
2. : occurring continually : indefinitely long-continued : not intermittent : constant
a perpetual source of amusement — Havelock Ellis
the perpetual struggle to maintain standards in a democracy — F.N.Robinson
perpetual quarreling between one parish and the next — Dorothy Sayers
3.
a. : perennial 2a
b. : blooming more or less continuously throughout the season : remontant
a hybrid perpetual rose
Synonyms: see continual
II. adverb
Etymology: Middle English perpetuel, from perpetuel, adjective
archaic : perpetually
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: perpetual (I)
1. : perennial 1
2. : a hybrid perpetual rose