perpetual

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++per·pet·u·al /pəˈpetʃuəl $ pər-/ adjective [usually before noun] 1 CONTINUOUScontinuing all the time without changing or stopping 连续不断的，无休止的 SYN continuous the perpetual noise of the machines 机器连续不断的噪音 a little girl with a perpetual smile 总是带着微笑的小女孩► see thesaurus at permanent2 CONTINUOUSrepeated many times in a way that annoys you 〔令人讨厌地〕一再重复的 SYN continual my mother’s perpetual nagging 我母亲没完没了的唠叨3 literaryALWAYS/FOREVER permanent 永久的，永恒的 the perpetual snows of the mountaintops 山顶的终年积雪 —perpetually adverb

Examples from the Corpus

perpetual• Up to five alarm calls per day can be set and there's a perpetual calendar as well.• For many working mothers, balancing the demands of children and job is a perpetual challenge.• Those who remain in the city are in perpetual danger of being hit by bullets and shells.• They help ward off the horse's instinctive perpetual fear of danger.• Walker seems to have a perpetual grin on his face.• Her husband's perpetual jealousy strongly affected their marriage.• The perpetual light of Voltai came in through his long windows.• I'm sick of her perpetual nagging.• Most senators complain that their perpetual race for money distracts them from official duties.• How can a struggling organization escape this pernicious cycle of perpetual reaction and strife?• The process is one of perpetual self-improvement.• The loyalty and heroics that Mulholland inspired in his workers were a perpetual source of wonder.• a perpetual struggle between rich and poorOrigin perpetual (1300-1400) Old French perpetuel, from Latin perpetuus, from petere “to go to”

per·pet·u·al adjectiveChineseSyllable

changing all continuing without time stopping or Corpus the

perpetual
per‧pet‧u‧al /pəˈpetʃuəl $ pər-/

adjective [usually before noun]

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: perpetuel, from Latin perpetuus, from petere 'to go to'

1. continuing all the time without changing or stopping
SYN continuous:

the perpetual noise of the machines

a little girl with a perpetual smile
2. repeated many times in a way that annoys you
SYN continual:

my mother’s perpetual nagging
3. literary permanent:

the perpetual snows of the mountaintops
—perpetually adverb

THESAURUS

   ▪ permanent continuing forever, for a very long time, or for the rest of your life: She has permanent damage to her eyesight. | the search for a permanent solution to the problem | They’ve offered her the job on a permanent basis.
   ▪ lasting continuing for a very long time – used especially when something continues to affect someone or something for a long time: The experience left a lasting impression on him. | Things that happen in early childhood can have a lasting effect on your life. | Shelley was to have a lasting influence on him. | Is there any hope for a lasting peace in the Middle East?
   ▪ never-ending continuing so long that you think it will never end – used especially when something needs a lot of effort: Keeping the house clean is a never-ending battle. | It was a never-ending task. | The search was never-ending.
   ▪ perpetual a perpetual state or feeling seems to be there all the time – used especially about something that is very annoying, worrying, or tiring: For many working mothers, balancing the demands of children and job is a perpetual challenge. | The people live in a perpetual state of fear.
   ▪ everlasting continuing forever – used especially in the following phrases: Gold is the symbol of everlasting love. | He promised them everlasting life.
   ▪ eternal continuing forever – used especially in the following phrases: Do you believe in eternal life? | the secret of eternal youth | She has my eternal gratitude (=I will always be grateful to her). | You’re always the eternal optimist. (=you always think that good things will happen)

per·pet·ual

BrE

/pəˈpetʃuəl/

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NAmE

/pərˈpetʃuəl/

🔊

adjective

[usually before noun]

continuing for a long period of time without interruption 不间断的；持续的；长久的

SYN

continuous