perpetuity
perpetuity Lexical Profile
perpetuity Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The state or quality of lasting forever or for an indefinitely long time.
"The conservation trust acquired the coastal wetlands to ensure their preservation in perpetuity."
A bond, annuity, or other financial stream of cash flows that pays a fixed return indefinitely and has no maturity date.
"The university's scholarship fund is structured as a perpetuity that distributes annual grants from its investment interest."
A legal arrangement or restriction in a will or trust that prevents property from being sold or transferred for an indefinite period beyond statutory limits.
"The estate lawyer carefully drafted the trust to ensure it did not violate the common-law rule against perpetuities."
Word Nuance & Usage
In general prose, 'perpetuity' is most commonly used in the fixed prepositional phrase 'in perpetuity', meaning forever or for an indefinite duration.
• Rhymes for perpetuity
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French perpetuite, from Latin perpetuitatem ('continuity'), derived from perpetuus ('continuous, universal'), from per- ('through') and petere ('to seek or go to').