Noun

(en-noun)

A continuous series or whole, no part of which is noticeably different from its adjacent parts, although the ends or extremes of it are very different from each other.

A continuous extent.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2012-03

, author=(Henry Petroski) , title=Opening Doors , volume=100, issue=2, page=112-3 , magazine= citation , passage=A doorknob of whatever roundish shape is effectively a continuum of levers, with the axis of the latching mechanism—known as the spindle—being the fulcrum about which the turning takes place.}}

(mathematics) The set of all real numbers and, more generally, a compact connected metric space.

(musical instruments) A touch-sensitive strip, similar to an electronic standard musical keyboard, except that the note steps are of a semitone, and so are not separately marked.

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.