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Sempiternity vs Eternity - What's the difference?

sempiternity | eternity |

Eternity is a antonym of sempiternity.



As nouns the difference between sempiternity and eternity

is that sempiternity is existence within time but infinitely into the future; as opposed to eternity, understood as existing outside time while eternity is existence without end, infinite time.

sempiternity

English

Noun

(-)
  • (philosophy) existence within time but infinitely into the future; as opposed to eternity, understood as existing outside time
  • eternity

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic) * (obsolete)

    Noun

  • (uncountable) Existence without end, infinite time.
  • * 1829', , ''Sermon LVIII: On the '''Eternity of God'', in ''Sermons on Several Occasions , Volume 2, 10th edition, page 1,
  • Eternity' has generally been considered as divisible into two parts; which have been termed, '''eternity''' ''a parte ante'', and '''eternity''' ''a parte post'': that is, in plain English, that '''eternity''' which is past, and that ' eternity which is to come.
  • * 1886 , , Systematic Theology: a Compendium and Commonplace-book Designed for the Use of Theological Students , page 190,
  • This theory regards creation as an act of God in eternity past.
  • * 2000 , , Human Nature in It's Fourfold State , page 247,
  • Those who like not the company of the saints on earth will get none of it in eternity'; but, as godless company is their delight now, they will afterwards get enough of it, when they have ' eternity to pass in the roaring and blaspheming society of devils and reprobates in hell.
  • (uncountable, philosophy) Existence outside of time.
  • * 1879 , (editor) ''Journal of Discourses , Volume 21,
  • We sometimes speak of eternity' in contradistinction to time; and often say, "through time and into '''eternity''';" and again "from '''eternity''' to '''eternity'''," which is simply another form of expressing the same idea, and "pass through time into '''eternity'''." in other words, time is a short period allotted to man in his probationary state—and we use the word time in contradistinction to the word ' eternity , merely for the accommodation of man in his finite sphere, that we may comprehend and learn to measure periods.
  • (countable) A period of time which extends infinitely far into the future.
  • (metaphysical) The remainder of time that elapses after death.
  • (informal, hyperbole) A comparatively long time.
  • It's been an eternity since we last saw each other.

    Usage notes

    * In the sense "a comparatively long time", eternity is always used with the indefinite article (an eternity ). * In philosophy, the common use of eternity' to refer to an infinite time is considered incorrect, ' eternity referring to existence outside of time; existence within time but of an infinite temporal duration is called everlastingness or sempiternity

    Synonyms

    * (existence outside of time) extratemporal * (infinite time) all time * (time extending infinitely far into the future) evermore, forever * (remainder of time that elapses after death) afterlife * (comparatively long time) an age, ages, centuries, donkey's years, hours, a lifetime, years, yonks

    Antonyms

    * (existence outside of time) sempiternity

    Derived terms

    * eternity past * eternity future

    Anagrams

    * entirety