— eternality /ee'terr nal"i tee/ , eternalness , n. — eternally , adv.
/i terr"nl/ , adj.
1. without beginning or end; lasting forever; always existing (opposed to temporal ): eternal life.
2. perpetual; ceaseless; endless: eternal quarreling; eternal chatter.
3. enduring; immutable: eternal principles.
4. Metaphys. existing outside all relations of time; not subject to change.
n.
5. something that is eternal.
6. the Eternal , God.
[ 1350-1400; ME aeternalis, equiv. to aetern ( us ) (see ETERNE) + -alis -AL 1 ]
Syn. 1. permanent, unending. ETERNAL, ENDLESS, EVERLASTING, PERPETUAL imply lasting or going on without ceasing. That which is ETERNAL is, by its nature, without beginning or end: God, the eternal Father. That which is ENDLESS never stops but goes on continuously as if in a circle: an endless succession of years. That which is EVERLASTING will endure through all future time: a promise of everlasting life. PERPEPTUAL implies continuous renewal as far into the future as one can foresee: perpetual strife between nations. 3. timeless, immortal, deathless, undying, imperishable, indestructible.
Ant. 1. transitory. 3. mutable.