Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity.eternitye‧ter‧ni‧ty /ɪˈtɜːnəti $ -ɜːr-/ noun 
Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. That week was an eternity of solitude and boredom.2[uncountable] the whole of time without any end: a little animal preserved for all eternity as a fossil3[uncountable] the state of existence after death that some people believe continues for ever
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- How could I not resent some stupid clouds robbing me of my one, brief glimpse of eternity?
- It is therefore often wise to pitch such descents, which of course can take an eternity.
- It seemed an eternity in coming.
- She told him about the Elder, and of the eternity of memories he had poured unasked into her head.
- The problem was to define eternity.
- There is, to be sure, a certain logic in the view which advocates the relinquishment of doomed creatures to eternity.
- They had practised together for only an hour, yet it seemed like an eternity.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. a little animal preserved for all eternity as a fossilCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. a little animal preserved for all eternity as a fossil (=a ring given as a sign of lasting love, especially one with stones all round it)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB· It seemed like an eternity before the shots were taken and the interview with the local Press was wrapped up.· But as the period of relative calm continued, it seemed to last an eternity.· Held so tightly, she had to endure his demanding kiss for what seemed an eternity.· The ball bobbled along the goal-line for what seemed an eternity before Olney screwed it wide.· After what seemed an eternity the engine was restarted and gradually faded away into the night.· It seemed an eternity in coming.· They had practised together for only an hour, yet it seemed like an eternity.· Suddenly, two weeks seemed an eternity.
· Yet how much time do we give to where we will spend eternity?
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1an eternity a period of time that seems very long because you are annoyed, anxious etc: - We only waited five minutes, but it seemed like an eternity.
Here she waited for what seemed like an eternity. That week was an eternity of solitude and boredom.2[uncountable] the whole of time without any end: a little animal preserved for all eternity as a fossil3[uncountable] the state of existence after death that some people believe continues for ever