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Perennial vs Everlasting - What's the difference?

perennial | everlasting |

As adjectives the difference between perennial and everlasting

is that perennial is lasting or remaining active throughout the year, or all the time while everlasting is lasting or enduring forever; existing or continuing without end; immortal; eternal.

As nouns the difference between perennial and everlasting

is that perennial is a perennial plant; a plant that is active throughout the year or survives for more than two growing seasons compare (annual), (biennial) while everlasting is an everlasting flower.

perennial

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Lasting or remaining active throughout the year, or all the time.
  • a perennial stream
  • (botany, of a plant) Having a life cycle of more than two years. Compare (annual), (biennial).
  • (figuratively) Continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; permanent; unceasing; never failing.
  • * 1790 ,
  • The perennial existence of bodies corporate and their fortunes are things particularly suited to a man who has long views…
  • (figuratively) Enduring; lasting; timeless.
  • His artwork has a perennial beauty.
  • (figuratively) Recurrent; appearing or recurring again and again.
  • Change is a perennial theme in politics.

    Derived terms

    * perennially

    Noun

    (Perennial plant) (en noun)
  • A perennial plant; a plant that is active throughout the year or survives for more than two growing seasons. Compare (annual), (biennial).
  • 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