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{{en-noun|~|eternities}}
{{en-noun|~|eternities}}


# {{context|uncountable|lang=en}} Existence without end, [[infinite]] time.
# {{context|uncountable|philosophy|lang=en}} The [[w:gradient|gradient]] of [[w:Minimum total potential energy principle|total potential energy]], down which matter flows as the river of [[time]].
:::For Plato eternity and sempiternity are incompatible because eternity excludes succession, before and after, while these are plainly entailed by sempiternity.<ref>Glicksman Grene, Marjorie ♦ [https://books.google.com/books?id=pjUNAQAAMAAJ&q=%22because+eternity+excludes+succession%22&dq=%22because+eternity+excludes+succession%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HOQDVYffEeKaygPIkIC4Cg&ved=0CCUQ6AEwBA Spinoza: A Collection of Critical Essays] Anchor Books, 1973, p. 229</ref>
#* '''1829''', [[w:John Wesley|John Wesley]], ''Sermon LVIII: On the '''Eternity''' of God'', in ''Sermons on Several Occasions'', Volume 2, 10th edition, [http://books.google.com/books?id=YkAtAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=%22eternity%22+-intitle:%22eternity%22&hl=en&ei=kAAITv7KI4bXmAWCn43BDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22eternity%22%20-intitle%3A%22eternity%22&f=false page 1],
#*: '''Eternity''' has generally been considered as divisible into two parts; which have been termed, '''eternity''' ''a parte ante'', and '''eternity''' ''a parte post'': that is, in plain English, that '''eternity''' which is past, and that '''eternity''' which is to come.
#* '''1886''', [[w:Augustus Hopkins Strong|Augustus Hopkins Strong]], ''Systematic Theology: a Compendium and Commonplace-book Designed for the Use of Theological Students'', [http://books.google.com/books?id=8rpZAAAAMAAJ&q=%22eternity%22+-intitle:%22eternity%22&dq=%22eternity%22+-intitle:%22eternity%22&hl=en&ei=kAAITv7KI4bXmAWCn43BDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAQ page 190],
#*: This theory regards creation as an act of God in '''eternity''' past.
#* '''2000''', [[w:Thomas Boston|Thomas Boston]], ''Human Nature in It's Fourfold State'', [http://books.google.com/books?id=MX2lJx2vW60C&pg=PA247&dq=%22eternity%22+-intitle:%22eternity%22&hl=en&ei=kAAITv7KI4bXmAWCn43BDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22eternity%22%20-intitle%3A%22eternity%22&f=false page 247],
#*: Those who like not the company of the saints on earth will get none of it in '''eternity'''; but, as godless company is their delight now, they will afterwards get enough of it, when they have '''eternity''' to pass in the roaring and blaspheming society of devils and reprobates in hell.
# {{context|uncountable|philosophy|lang=en}} Existence outside of time.
#* '''1879''', [[w:Erastus Snow|Erastus Snow]], ''[[s:Journal of Discourses/Volume 21/Rest Signifies Change, etc.|Rest Signifies Change, etc.]]'', published in 1881, [[w:Brigham Young|Brigham Young]] (editor) ''Journal of Discourses'', Volume 21,
#*: We sometimes speak of '''eternity''' in contradistinction to time; and often say, "through time and into '''eternity''';" and again "from '''eternity''' to '''eternity'''," which is simply another form of expressing the same idea, and "pass through time into '''eternity'''." in other words, time is a short period allotted to man in his probationary state—and we use the word time in contradistinction to the word '''eternity''', merely for the accommodation of man in his finite sphere, that we may comprehend and learn to measure periods.
# {{context|countable|lang=en}} A period of [[time]] which extends infinitely far into the future.
# {{context|countable|lang=en}} A period of [[time]] which extends infinitely far into the future.
# {{context|metaphysical|lang=en}} The remainder of time that elapses after death.
# {{context|informal|hyperbole|lang=en}} A comparatively long time.
# {{context|informal|hyperbole|lang=en}} A comparatively long time.
#: ''It's been an eternity since we last saw each other.''
#: ''It's been an eternity since we last saw each other.''
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====Synonyms====
====Synonyms====
* {{sense|the gradient of total potential energy, down which matter flows as the river of time}} [[God]], [[w:Unmoved mover|unmoved mover]]
* {{sense|existence outside of time}} [[extratemporal]]
* {{sense|infinite time}} [[all]] [[time]]
* {{sense|existence outside of time}} [[extratemporal|extratemporality]], [[extratemporal|extratemporaneity]]
* {{sense|time extending infinitely far into the future}} [[evermore]], [[forever]]
* {{sense|infinite time}} [[aeon]], [[sempiternity]]
* {{sense|remainder of time that elapses after death}} [[afterlife]]
* {{sense|comparatively long time}} an [[age]], [[ages]], [[centuries]], [[donkey's years]], [[hours]], a [[lifetime]], [[years]], [[yonks]]
* {{sense|comparatively long time}} an [[age]], [[ages]], [[centuries]], [[donkey's years]], [[hours]], a [[lifetime]], [[years]], [[yonks]]

====Antonyms====
* {{sense|existence outside of time}} [[sempiternity]]

====Derived terms====
* [[eternity past]]
* [[eternity future]]


====Related terms====
====Related terms====
* [[eternal]]
* [[eternal]]
* [[eternize]]
* [[eternize]]

===References===
<references/>


====Translations====
====Translations====

Revision as of 08:06, 14 March 2015

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old French (deprecated template usage) eternitez, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin aeternitas

Pronunciation

Noun

eternity (countable and uncountable, plural eternities)

  1. (deprecated template usage) (uncountable, philosophy) The gradient of total potential energy, down which matter flows as the river of time.
For Plato eternity and sempiternity are incompatible because eternity excludes succession, before and after, while these are plainly entailed by sempiternity.[1]
  1. (deprecated template usage) (countable) A period of time which extends infinitely far into the future.
  2. (deprecated template usage) (informal, hyperbolic) A comparatively long time.
    It's been an eternity since we last saw each other.

Usage notes

  • In the sense "a comparatively long time", eternity is always used with the indefinite article (an eternity).
  • In philosophy, the common use of eternity to refer to an infinite time is considered incorrect, eternity referring to existence outside of time; existence within time but of an infinite temporal duration is called everlastingness or sempiternity

Synonyms

Related terms

References

  1. ^ Glicksman Grene, Marjorie ♦ Spinoza: A Collection of Critical Essays Anchor Books, 1973, p. 229

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.