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Forever vs Perpetual - What's the difference?

forever | perpetual |

As an adverb forever

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

As a noun forever

is an extremely long time.

As an adjective perpetual is

lasting forever, or for an indefinitely long time.

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 .

    perpetual

    English

    Alternative forms

    * perpetuall (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Lasting forever, or for an indefinitely long time
  • Set up to be in effect or have tenure for an unlimited duration
  • Continuing uninterrupted
  • Flowering throughout the growing season
  • * By means of artificial hybridization, practised for a series of years, he has succeeded in producing a race of carnations which are perpetual bloomers.
  • * The hybrid perpetual roses as a rule require to be pruned to within 4 to 6 inches of the ground.

    • Derived terms

    * perpetual motion

    Related terms

    * perpetuate

    References

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