perennial

perennial
perennial 1640s, "evergreen," formed in English from L. perennis "lasting through the year (or years)," from per- "through" (see PER (Cf. per)) + annus "year" (see ANNUAL (Cf. annual)). Botanical sense of "Remaining alive through a number of years" is attested from 1670s; figurative meaning of "enduring, permanent" is from 1750.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Perennial — Per*en ni*al, a. [L. perennis that lasts the whole year through; per through + annus year. See {Per }, and {Annual}.] 1. ing or continuing through the year; as, perennial fountains. [1913 Webster] 2. Continuing without cessation or intermission;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • perennial — [pə ren′ē əl] adj. [< L perennis, lasting through the year < per , through + annus, a year: see PER1 & ANNUAL] 1. lasting or active throughout the whole year 2. lasting or continuing for a long time [perennial youth] 3. returning or… …   English World dictionary

  • Perennial — Per*en ni*al, n. (Bot.) A perennial plant; a plant which lives or continues more than two years, whether it retains its leaves in winter or not. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • perennial — ► ADJECTIVE 1) lasting through a year or several years. 2) (of a plant) living for several years. Compare with ANNUAL(Cf. ↑annually), BIENNIAL(Cf. ↑biennially). 3) lasting or doing something for a long time or for ever. ► NOUN …   English terms dictionary

  • perennial — index chronic, consecutive, constant, continual (connected), continuous, immutable, incessant, i …   Law dictionary

  • perennial — perpetual, incessant, unremitting, constant, *continual, continuous Analogous words: *lasting, perpetual, perdurable, stable: *everlasting, unceasing …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • perennial — with reference to plants, means ‘lasting several years’ by contrast with annual which means ‘lasting for one growing season’ …   Modern English usage

  • perennial — [adj] enduring, perpetual abiding, annual, ceaseless, chronic, constant, continual, continuing, deathless, durable, eternal, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, incessant, inveterate, lasting, lifelong, long lasting, long lived, longstanding,… …   New thesaurus

  • perennial — [[t]pəre̱niəl[/t]] perennials 1) ADJ GRADED: usu ADJ n You use perennial to describe situations or states that keep occurring or which seem to exist all the time; used especially to describe problems or difficulties. ...the perennial urban… …   English dictionary

  • perennial — adjective Etymology: Latin perennis, from per throughout + annus year more at per , annual Date: 1644 1. present at all seasons of the year 2. persisting for several years usually with new herbaceous growth from a perennating part < perennial… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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