sempiternal

[ sem-pi-tur-nl ]

adjective

, Literary.

1. everlasting; eternal.

sempiternal

/ ˌsɛmpɪˈtɜːnɪtɪ; ˌsɛmpɪˈtɜːnəl /

adjective

1. literary.
   everlasting; eternal

Derived Forms

• sempiternity, noun
• ˌsempiˈternally, adverb

Other Words From

• sempi·ternal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sempiternal¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin sempiternālis, equivalent to Latin sempitern ( us ) everlasting semp ( er ) always + -i- -i- + -ternus suffix of temporal adjectives; eterne ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sempiternal¹

C15: from Old French sempiternel, from Late Latin sempiternālis, from Latin sempiternus, from semper always + aeternus eternal

Example Sentences

At church, at the altar, there were vestments of gold and the climbing voices of a Mozart mass, tossing rings sempiternal.

From Literature

Such disdain is trumped only by the sempiternal public contempt for Congress and car salesmen.

From Economist

The sempiternal nurdles, indestructible, swayed on and under the surface of the sea.

From The Guardian

He wrote: “Isn’t that lovely and tear-drawing? true and tender and sempiternal?”

From Project Gutenberg

I bet the soul of him who's dead and blest, To dwell within this sumptuous monument Has left the seats of sempiternal rest!

From Project Gutenberg