What is the difference between eternity and forever?
eternity | forever | Synonyms |
(uncountable) Existence without end, infinite time.
* 1829', , ''Sermon LVIII: On the '''Eternity of God'', in ''Sermons on Several Occasions , Volume 2, 10th edition,
* 1886 , , Systematic Theology: a Compendium and Commonplace-book Designed for the Use of Theological Students ,
* 2000 , , Human Nature in It's Fourfold State ,
(uncountable, philosophy) Existence outside of time.
* 1879 , (editor) ''Journal of Discourses , Volume 21,
(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.
(duration) for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time.
* 1839 , Denison Olmsted, A Compendium of Astronomy Page 95
(duration, colloquial) for a very long time, 'an' eternity.
(frequency) constantly or frequently.
* 1912 : (Edgar Rice Burroughs), (Tarzan of the Apes), Chapter 5
An extremely long time.
*
* 2007 , Ruth O'Callaghan, Where acid has etched
(colloquial) a mythical time in the infinite future that will never come.
Forever is a synonym of eternity.
As nouns the difference between eternity and forever
is that eternity is existence without end, infinite time while forever is an extremely long time.As an adverb forever is
for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time.eternity
English
Alternative forms
* (archaic) * (obsolete)Noun
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.
page 190,
- This theory regards creation as an act of God in eternity past.
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.
- 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.
- 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 sempiternitySynonyms
* (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, yonksAntonyms
* (existence outside of time) sempiternityDerived terms
* eternity past * eternity futureAnagrams
* entiretyforever
English
Alternative forms
* for everAdverb
(-)- ''I shall love you forever .
- Secondly, When a body is once in motion it will continue to move forever , unless something stops it. When a ball is struck on the surface of the earth, the friction of the earth and the resistance of the air soon stop its motion.
- ''We had to wait forever to get inside.
- ''You are forever nagging me.
- Early in his boyhood he had learned to form ropes by twisting and tying long grasses together, and with these he was forever tripping Tublat or attempting to hang him from some overhanging branch.
Usage notes
* In the United Kingdom and most of the Commonwealth, the spelling for ever'' may be used instead of ''forever'' for the senses "for all time" and "for a long time". In Canada and the United States, generally only ''forever is used, regardless of sense.Synonyms
* always * continually * eternally * evermore * for good * forevermore * for ever more * incessantly * until Kingdom comeDerived terms
* forevernessNoun
(en noun)- In the airport, holiday lovers kiss, mouth forevers , the usual argot betrays you. Desire makes love dull.
- ''Sure, I'd be happy to meet with you on the 12th of forever .