eternale‧ter‧nal /ɪˈtɜːnəl $ -ɜːr-/ ●●○ adjective 
the Christian promise of eternal life She’s an eternal optimist (=she always expects that good things will happen).► see thesaurus at permanent2seeming to continue for ever, especially because of being boring or annoying SYN never-ending: the eternal arguments between mother and son3eternal truths principles that are always true
WORD ORIGINeternal
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French, Latin aeternus ‘eternal’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Church members express a belief in eternal life after death.
- Night after night, Manson was aware of his eternal hunger.
- people searching for eternal youth
- The possibility of eternal life is a principle belief of many religions.
- the search for eternal youth
- Even eternal salvation has become something sold in the marketplace.
- Making the right choices, like protecting freedom, demands eternal vigilance.
- Many of these leave a very big question mark as to their eternal significance.
- The eternal quest for immortality will be in vain until we know the answer - unfortunately, we don't.
- The conflict between mind and machine might be resolved at last in the eternal truce of complete symbiosis...
- Their sharp, shuddery relevance to our own eternal conflicts shows clear.
- They could only have believed that tanks had eternal lives.
- Yet, surely, the eternal verities of any game still apply.
THESAURUS
continuing forever, for a very long time, or for the rest of your life: · She has permanent damage to her eyesight.· the search for a permanent solution to the problem· They’ve offered her the job on a permanent basis.
continuing for a very long time – used especially when something continues to affect someone or something for a long time: · The experience left a lasting impression on him.· Things that happen in early childhood can have a lasting effect on your life.· Shelley was to have a lasting influence on him.· Is there any hope for a lasting peace in the Middle East?
continuing so long that you think it will never end – used especially when something needs a lot of effort: · Keeping the house clean is a never-ending battle.· It was a never-ending task.· The search was never-ending.
a perpetual state or feeling seems to be there all the time – used especially about something that is very annoying, worrying, or tiring: · For many working mothers, balancing the demands of children and job is a perpetual challenge.· The people live in a perpetual state of fear.
continuing forever – used especially in the following phrases: · Gold is the symbol of everlasting love.· He promised them everlasting life.
continuing forever – used especially in the following phrases: · Do you believe in eternal life?· the secret of eternal youth· She has my eternal gratitude (=I will always be grateful to her).· You’re always the eternal optimist. (=you always think that good things will happen)
Longman Language Activatorremaining or continuing forever continuing forever, for a very long time, or for the rest of your life: · The car accident has caused permanent damage to her eyesight.· Most police departments keep a permanent record of all violent crimes committed in their area.
: eternal life/youth/salvation etc life etc which continues forever: · The possibility of eternal life is a principal belief of many religions.· the search for eternal youth
a word used especially in religious contexts, meaning continuing forever: · life everlasting· the Buddhist's search for everlasting peace
a state or feeling that is perpetual seems to be there all the time and is very annoying, upsetting, worrying etc: · For many working mothers, balancing the demands of children and job is a perpetual challenge.· Her husband's perpetual jealousy strongly affected their marriage.
having no end, or continuing so long that you think it will never end: · To Miguel, the boredom of married life seemed never-ending.· Keeping the house neat and clean is a never-ending battle.
continuing forever and never ending or stopping: · It's difficult to really imagine an infinite universe.· She was a woman of seemingly infinite patience.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She’s an eternal optimist (=she always expects that good things will happen).COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He’s an eternal optimist (=he always believes that good things will happen). the eternal verities of lifeCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
1continuing for ever and having no end: She’s an eternal optimist (=she always expects that good things will happen). (=used to emphasize how extremely grateful you are)· The doctors who saved my daughter have my undying gratitude.
(=used to say that people will always hope for something)· It is unlikely these diets will work, but hope springs eternal.
He’s an eternal optimist (=he always believes that good things will happen). the eternal verities of life· The Pope has put betting - with tax-dodging and reading horoscopes - on a list of sins that risk eternal damnation.· And stargazers who slavishly read those horoscopes are set for the sign of eternal damnation.· He preached heavenly redemption, eternal damnation and very little in between.· Doomed to eternal damnation from Sinatra's own special brand of heaven.· All swore, on pain of excommunication and eternal damnation, to protect and uphold the peace of the land.
· Because of his obedience he had been granted the gift of eternal life.· For a lifetime pharaohs would carefully hoard possessions to carry with them on their journey into eternal life.· In the sky Re made the stars and placed for eternal life.· For all his odd and scary views, Buchanan has played the fear card like a snake oil salesman hawking eternal life.· What do we know? eternal life.· So, basically, a 401-K plan or eternal life are pretty much the same thing.· They could only have believed that tanks had eternal lives.· In fact, eternal life would be a calamity.
· I just had a man round here declaring eternal love.· Overcome with remorse she swears eternal love to him, at which he recovers.
· When dawn finally arrived, an ill-rested city streamed to witness the cause of its apprehension being sent to her eternal punishment.
· Secondly, their eyes are on eternal truth, of which each party deems itself the sole defender.· I simply thought this was an inviolate, eternal truth.
· Neither was a spiritualist, but both connected contemporary ideas of earthbound survival with the ancient superstition of eternal youth.· For him she begged the gift of immortality from her fellow gods, but neglected to specify eternal youth as well.
the Christian promise of eternal life She’s an eternal optimist (=she always expects that good things will happen).► see thesaurus at permanent2seeming to continue for ever, especially because of being boring or annoying SYN never-ending: the eternal arguments between mother and son3eternal truths principles that are always true