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What is the difference between everlasting and forever?

everlasting | forever | Related terms |

Forever is a related term of everlasting.



In colloquial terms the difference between everlasting and forever

is that everlasting is extremely while forever is a mythical time in the infinite future that will never come.

As nouns the difference between everlasting and forever

is that everlasting is an everlasting flower while forever is an extremely long time.

As an adjective everlasting

is lasting or enduring forever; existing or continuing without end; immortal; eternal.

As an adverb forever is

for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time.

everlasting

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Lasting or enduring forever; existing or continuing without end; immortal; eternal.
  • * (rfdate), (w) xx1. 33
    • The Everlasting God.
  • Continuing indefinitely, or during a long period; perpetual; sometimes used, colloquially, as a strong intensive.
  • * (rfdate), (w) xvii. 8
    • I will give to thee, and to thy seed after theethe land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession.
  • * (rfdate), (Alexander Pope) (1688-1744)
    • And heard thy everlasting yawn confess / The pains and penalties of idleness.
  • (label) Existing with infinite temporal duration (as opposed to existence outside of time).
  • (label) Extremely.
  • *, chapter=10
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=The Jones man was looking at her hard. Now he reached into the hatch of his vest and fetched out a couple of cigars, everlasting big ones, with gilt bands on them.}}

    Usage notes

    * Everlasting, Eternal. Eternal denotes (when taken strictly) without beginning or end of duration; everlasting is sometimes used in our version of the Scriptures in the sense of eternal, but in modern usage is confined to the future, and implies no intermission as well as no end. *: Whether we shall meet again I know not; Therefore our everlasting farewell take; Forever, and forever farewell, Cassius. -(William Shakespeare)

    Synonyms

    * eternal, immortal, interminable, endless, never-ending, infinite, unlimited, unceasing, uninterrupted, continual, unintermitted, incessant * (existing with infinite temporal duration ) sempiternal

    Antonyms

    * (of a short life) ephemeral * (existing or continuing without end) finite, limited, mortal

    Derived terms

    * everlasting flower. * everlasting pea

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An everlasting flower.
  • * 1974 , (GB Edwards), The Book of Ebenezer Le Page , New York 2007, p. 313:
    • ‘It is true perhaps it is too late now for you to look like a rose; but you can always look like an everlasting .’
  • A cloth fabric for shoes, etc.
    • (Webster 1913) English karmadharaya compounds

    forever

    English

    Alternative forms

    * for ever

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (duration) for all time, for all eternity; for an infinite amount of time.
    • ''I shall love you forever .
  • * 1839 , Denison Olmsted, A Compendium of Astronomy Page 95
    • 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.
  • (duration, colloquial) for a very long time, 'an' eternity.
    • ''We had to wait forever to get inside.
  • (frequency) constantly or frequently.
    • ''You are forever nagging me.
  • * 1912 : (Edgar Rice Burroughs), (Tarzan of the Apes), Chapter 5
    • 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 come

    Derived terms

    * foreverness

    Related terms

    * everlasting * every * everyday * never * nevermore * whatever * whenever * whoever

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An extremely long time.
  • *
  • * 2007 , Ruth O'Callaghan, Where acid has etched
    • In the airport, holiday lovers kiss, mouth forevers , the usual argot betrays you. Desire makes love dull.
  • (colloquial) a mythical time in the infinite future that will never come.
    • ''Sure, I'd be happy to meet with you on the 12th of forever .