What is the difference between eternity and lifetime?
eternity | lifetime | 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.
The duration of the life of someone or something.
(informal, hyperbole) A long period of time.
Lifetime is a synonym of eternity.
In informal hyperbole terms the difference between eternity and lifetime
is that eternity is a comparatively long time while lifetime is a long period of time.As nouns the difference between eternity and lifetime
is that eternity is existence without end, infinite time while lifetime is the duration of the life of someone or something.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
* entiretylifetime
English
Noun
- I've been waiting a lifetime for a train.