perpetuation (n.)
"prolongation, permanent continuation; act of preserving through an endless existence," late 14c., perpetuacioun, from Medieval Latin perpetuationem (nominative perpetuatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin perpetuare "to make perpetual," from perpetuus "continuous, universal" (see perpetual).
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mid-14c., perpetuel, "everlasting, unceasing, existing indefinitely, continuing forever in future time;" late 14c., "uninterrupted, continuous," from Old French perpetuel "without end" (12c.) and directly from Latin perpetualis "universal," in Medieval Latin "permanent," from perpetuus "continuous, universal," from perpetis, genitive of Old Latin perpes "lasting," probably from per "through" (from PIE root *per- (1) "forward," hence "through") + root of petere "to seek, go to, aim at" (from PIE root *pet- "to rush, to fly").
Related: Perpetually. Perpetual motion in reference to a hypothetical machine which, being set once in motion, will continue forever unless stopped by some external force" is attested from 1590s.
"cause to endure or to continue indefinitely, preserve from extinction or oblivion," 1520s, a back-formation from perpetuation or else from Latin perpetuatus, past participle of perpetuare "to make perpetual," from perpetuus "continuous, universal" (see perpetual). Related: Perpetuated; Perpetuating.
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updated on April 12, 2020
Dictionary entries near perpetuation
perpetrate
perpetration
perpetrator
perpetual
perpetuate
perpetuation
perpetuity
perpetuous
perplex
perplexed
perplexity