everlasting

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English, equivalent to ever +‎ lasting.

Alternative forms[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

everlasting (comparative more everlasting, superlative most everlasting)

  1. Lasting or enduring forever; existing or continuing without end
    Synonyms: immortal, eternal
  2. Continuing indefinitely, or during a long period; perpetual; sometimes used, colloquially, as a strong intensive.
    this everlasting nonsense
  3. (philosophy) Existing with infinite temporal duration (as opposed to existence outside of time).

Citations[edit]

Synonyms[edit]

Antonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Adverb[edit]

everlasting (comparative more everlasting, superlative most everlasting)

  1. (colloquial) Extremely.
    • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 10, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
      The Jones man was looking at her hard. Now he reached into the hatch of his vest and fetched out a couple of cigars, everlasting big ones, with gilt bands on them.

Noun[edit]

everlasting (plural everlastings)

  1. An everlasting flower.
    • 1887, H. Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure‎[1]:
      Reverently I replaced the grave-cloths, and, with a sigh that flowers so fair should, in the purpose of the Everlasting, have only bloomed to be gathered to the grave, I turned to the body on the opposite shelf, and gently unveiled it.
    • 1942, Emily Carr, The Book of Small, “The Orange Lily,” [2]
      With a backward look Small said, “What a lovely lily!” ¶ “Well enough but strong-smelling, gaudy. Come see the everlastings.”
    • 1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York 2007, p. 313:
      ‘It is true perhaps it is too late now for you to look like a rose; but you can always look like an everlasting.’
  2. (historical) A durable cloth fabric for shoes, etc.
    • 1988, Eric Kerridge, Textile Manufactures in Early Modern England, page 64:
      Everlastings of one kind or another were used to make gaiters, shoe tops and liveries for sergeants and catchpoles.

Translations[edit]

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
(See the entry for everlasting in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.)

Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=everlasting&oldid=62358288"