Origin: Latin suffix -al
Perpetual has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
"the ceaseless thunder of surf"
"in constant pain"
"night and day we live with the incessant noise of the city"
"the never-ending search for happiness"
"the perpetual struggle to maintain standards in a democracy"
"man's unceasing warfare with drought and isolation"
"unremitting demands of hunger"
Lasting forever, or for an indefinitely long time
"The company plans to offer a perpetual license for their software so users never have to worry about renewal fees."
In plain English: Perpetual means something that never stops and goes on forever without ending.
"The perpetual motion of the ceiling fan kept her awake all night long."
Usage: Use "perpetual" to describe something that continues without interruption rather than simply lasting a very long time. Avoid confusing this adjective with the noun "perpetuity," which refers specifically to the state of existing forever.
The word perpetual comes from the Latin perpetuus, which originally meant "universal." It entered English through Old and Middle French with this same sense of something lasting forever or without interruption.