Perpetuity
/ˌpɜːr.pəˈtuː.ə.ti/noun
The state or quality of lasting forever or for an indefinitely long time.
Did you know?Perpetuity comes from Latin *perpetuus*, meaning “continuous” or “unbroken,” and its root *pet-* is tied to “spreading” or “reaching through,” giving the word its eerie sense of endless extension.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pet-
“to rush, spread, or fly”
Latin
Latin
perpetuus
“continuous, unbroken, lasting through”
Late Latin
Latin
perpetuitas
“continuity, perpetuity”
Old French
Old French
perpetuite
“perpetuity, endless duration”
Middle English
English
perpetuite
“endless duration”
Modern English
English
perpetuity
“the state of lasting forever or indefinitely”