perennial
English
Etymology
1644, from Latin perennis (“lasting through the whole year”), from per- (“through”) + annus (“year”) + -al; surface analysis per- + -ennial.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /pəˈɹɛni.əl/
Audio (US) (file)
Adjective
perennial (not comparable)
- Lasting or remaining active throughout the year, or all the time.
- a perennial stream
- (botany, of a plant) Having a life cycle of more than two years. Compare annual, biennial.
- (figuratively) Continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; permanent; unceasing; never failing.
- 1790, Burke, Edmund, Reflections on the Revolution in France:
- The perennial existence of bodies corporate and their fortunes are things particularly suited to a man who has long views…
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- (figuratively) Enduring; lasting; timeless.
- His artwork has a perennial beauty.
- (figuratively) Recurrent; appearing or recurring again and again.
- Change is a perennial theme in politics.
Synonyms
- (timeless): everlasting, perpetual; see also Thesaurus:eternal
- (recurrent): recurring, repetitious; see also Thesaurus:repetitive
Derived terms
Translations
lasting or remaining active throughout the year, or all the time
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(of a plant) Having a life cycle of more than two years
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continuing without cessation or intermission; perpetual; permanent; unceasing; never failing
enduring; lasting; timeless
recurrent; appearing or recurring again and again
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Noun
perennial (plural perennials)
Translations
perennial plant
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