Etymologically
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aeternalis

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:05. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ae̯.tɛrˈnaː.lɪs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [e.terˈnaː.lis][1]

Forms

aeternālis (neuter aeternāle); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from aeternus “eternal” with the suffix -ālis.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Tertullian, whom he dates c. 160–220 AD.[4][5]

Semantic evolution

It meant everlasting, eternal.[2] Lewis & Short note it is frequent in inscriptions, as in aeternālī somnō sacrum “sacred to eternal sleep”, that is, to death.[6] Tertullian and Augustine use it.[5]

English eternal (late 14th century) is from Old French eternel or directly from Late Latin aeternālis.[3] It survives in French éternel and Spanish eternal.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it.[4][5]
  • 354–430 AD – Augustine uses it.[5][4]
  • late 14th century – English eternal is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Everlasting, eternal.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press