perpetual

英 [pə'petʃuəl] 美 [pər'petʃuəl]

adj.永久的;永恒的;一再往复的

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◉Etymology

“Perpetual” 这个单词的词源可以追溯到拉丁语的 “perpetuus”,意为 “持续的、不断的”,由 “per”(全、完全)和 “petere”(寻求、追求)构成。在英语中,“perpetual” 的含义是指持续不断的、永久的或长久的。


◉外刊例句

① The city is facing a perpetual water shortage that requires urgent measures to be addressed. 《卫报》 - 2023年9月

这座城市面临着永久性的水资源短缺问题,需要紧急采取措施来解决。

② The government’s policies have led to perpetual instability in society.《纽约时报》 - 2023年11月

这个政府的政策导致了社会的长期不稳定。

③ The relationship between this couple has been perpetual and stable over time.CNN - 2023年12月

这对夫妇的关系一直以来都是持久而稳定的。


◉Usage Examples

(1) He was perpetual president of the country.

(2) He has run his course and takes his perpetual rest.

(3) She lives in perpetual fear of being discovered.

(4) It is the secret of perpetual youth.

(5) She's tired of their perpetual chatter.

(6) He was irritated by their perpetual complaints.

(7) I'm tired of your perpetual nagging.

(8) My life's dream has been a perpetual nightmare.

(1) 他是该国的终身总统。

(2) 他已走完他的行程而长眠了。

(3) 她永远生活在怕被发现的恐惧中。

(4) 它是青春永驻的秘诀。

(5) 她对他们没完没了的闲谈感到厌倦。

(6) 他们一再发牢骚把他惹火了。

(7) 我对你无休止的唠叨厌烦了。

(8) 我的生涯一直是个重复不断的恶梦。


◉Usage Notes

Use the adjective perpetual to describe something that never ends or changes. If you're a perpetual procrastinator, your dilly-dallying ways are never going to improve.

It may be true that the only constant is change, but English nevertheless has no shortage of words to describe things that never change: everlasting, eternal, and permanent, for example — and this word, perpetual, from the Latin perpetuus, "continuous." In casual usage, though, you might hear someone say "This perpetual bad weather needs to clear." Maybe it should come as no surprise to find people using the word to describe things that are not truly everlasting — since so few things really are.


◉Colins

1[ADJ 形容词]不间断的;不变的;持续的;长久的 A perpetual feeling, state, or quality is one that never ends or changes. [usu ADJ n]

...the creation of a perpetual union.

永久联盟的创立

perpetually

They were all perpetually starving...

他们都一直忍饥挨饿。

He and his wife would be compelled to live perpetually as second-class citizens.

他和妻子将被迫永远做二等公民。

2[ADJ 形容词]连续不断的;无尽无休的;没完没了的 A perpetual act, situation, or state is one that happens again and again and so seems never to end. [usu ADJ n]

I thought her perpetual complaints were going to prove too much for me.

我想我再也受不了她无休无止的抱怨了。per|pet|ual|ly

...a perpetually renewed miracle...

不断再现的奇迹

He perpetually interferes in political affairs.

他总是干预政事。