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perpetuus

Etymology and origin of the Latin word perpetuus

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Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*peth₂-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [pɛrˈpɛ.tu.ʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [perˈpɛː.tu.us][1]

Forms

perpetuus (feminine perpetua, neuter perpetuum, comparative perpetuior, superlative perpetuissimus, adverb perpetuē or perpetuō); first/second-declension adjective[1] Cato has the comparative perpetuior and superlative perpetuissimus.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from per- and petō “to make for, seek” with the suffix ⟨-uus⟩; compare perpes “continuous”.[2][1][4] De Vaan traces ⟨petō⟩ to Proto-Indo-European *pt-(e)y- (“to fly”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of something lasting.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant continuous in space, unbroken, as in Caesar's perpetuae palūdēs and Cicero; continuous in time, uninterrupted; of speech or writing, connected, as in Varro; lasting indefinitely, permanent, as in Plautus; lifelong, in perpetuum “for ever”, as in Pliny; and of rules always valid, as in Cicero.[2][7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant everlasting, perpetual, continuous.[8] British Medieval Latin used it for continuous in space and in time.[9] Through Latin perpetuālis and Old French perpetuel, English perpetual is recorded in the mid-14th century.[10]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][6]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of continuous speech.[2][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of continuity and validity.[2][6]
  • mid-14th century – English perpetual is recorded.[10]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Continuous, unbroken.[2]
  2. Uninterrupted; connected.[2]
  3. Lasting, permanent; lifelong, in perpetuum for ever.[2]
  4. Always valid, invariable.[2]

Word family

  • comperpetuus
  • imperpetuus
  • perpetuārius
  • perpetuitās
  • perpetuō
  • perpetuum
  • perpetuāliter
  • perpetuālis
  • perpetuē
  • perpetuitō
  • perpetuābilis
  • perpetuātiō
  • petō
  • perpes
  • English perpetual

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  9. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  10. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Perpetuus.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/perpetuus. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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