perpetuate
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perpetuate¹
- /pəˈpɛt͡ʃʊeɪt/ UK
- /-ˈpɛtjueɪt/ UK
- /pɚˈpɛt͡ʃəˌweɪt/ US
Where it comes from
(16th century) From earlier perpetuat, learned borrowing from Latin perpetuātus (“perpetuated”), perfect passive participle of perpetuō (“to cause to continue uninterruptedly, to proceed with continually, to make perpetual, perpetuate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from perpetuus (“everlasting, perpetual”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix), from per- (“thoroughly, very”) + petō (“to ask, request; to look for; to make for (somewhere)”) + -uus (forms adjectives from verbal stems), literally “that is asked with great zeal, over and over again”, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- (“to spread out; to fly”).
Cognates
* Catalan perpetuar
* Italian perpetuare
* Old French perpetué (adjective) (Middle French perpetué (adjective)); Middle French perpétuer (verb) (modern French perpétuer (verb))
* Old Occitan perpetuar
* Portuguese perpetuar
* Spanish perpetuar
verb perpetuates · perpetuating · perpetuated · perpetuate
-
To make (something) perpetual; to make (something) continue for an indefinite time; also, to preserve (something) from extinction or oblivion.
I am contented to contynue it for my tyme, but to perpetuate it lyeth nat in my power.
Similar: eternalize, eternize, immortalize, perpetuate
-
To record (the testimony of a witness) which may be lost before a matter comes to trial.
If vvitneſſes to a diſputable fact are old and infirm, it is very uſual to file a bill to perpetuate the teſtimony of thoſe vvitneſſes, although no ſuit is depending; for, it may be, a man's antagoniſt only vvaits for the death of ſome of them to begin his ſuit. This is moſt frequent vvhen lands are
Similar: eternalize, eternize, immortalize, perpetuate
-
To prolong the existence of (something) by repetition; to reinforce.
He who praiseth obscurity perpetuateth it.
Similar: continue
perpetuate²
- /pəˈpɛt͡ʃʊət/ UK
- /pəˈpɛtjʊət/ UK
- /pɚˈpɛt͡ʃəˌweɪt/ US
- /-t͡ʃəwət/ US
Where it comes from
From earlier preparat (see Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more).
adjective
-
Perpetual, or made perpetual; continued for an indefinite time.
The wele suertie and comfort perpetuat of theym ther heires and successours.
Similar: ageful, agelong, amaranthine, celestial, endless, enduring, eternal, eterne, everduring, evergreen, everlasting, eviternal · Opposite: earthly, ephemeral, brief, deciduous, evanescent, fleeting, flying, fugacious, fugitive, instant, momentary, passing
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: continuity, permanent, persist, keep, prolong, continue, retain, sustain, maintain, commit, extend, perpetrate, devote, uphold, consolidate, commemorate
Translations
Every language
verb to make perpetual
| Español | perpetuar |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 使……永久化 shǐ... yǒngjiǔhuà |
| Português | perpetuar |
| Français | perpétuer, pérenniser |
| Deutsch | perpetuieren, verewigen |
| Italiano | perpetuàre, eternàre, perennare, rivìvere |
| Română | perpetua |
| Русский | увекове́чивать uvekovéčivatʹ, увекове́чить uvekovéčitʹ |
| العربية | أَبَّدَ ʔabbada, أَدَامَ ʔadāma, خَلَّدَ ḵallada |
| עברית | הנציח hintsíakh |
verb to preserve (something) from extinction or oblivion
| 中文 | 使……永存 shǐ... yǒngcún |
|---|---|
| Français | pérenniser |
verb to prolong the existence of (something) by repetition — see also reinforce
| Español | perpetuar |
|---|---|
| Português | perpetuar |
| Français | maintenir |
| Deutsch | perpetuieren, aufrechterhalten, bestendigen, festschreiben, verankern, zementieren |
| Русский | продлевать существование prodlevatʹ suščestvovanije, закреплять zakrepljatʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | nối |
Talk about this word "perpetuate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/perpetuate. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. perpetuate. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/perpetuate "perpetuate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/perpetuate.Cite this
@misc{perpetuate_2026,
title = {perpetuate},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/perpetuate},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
