Eternity

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɪˈtɜː.nə.ti/

Definitions

1. An infinite or seemingly infinite period of time that has no beginning or end
2. An unbounded expanse of duration that neither commences nor terminates, representing infinite temporal extension
3. An endless span of time that continues forever without interruption

Etymology: Old English had its own word for this idea, "ēcnes," which meant something like "eternal existence" and was built from "ēce," "eternal." That native term was displaced when English borrowed the concept along with its Latin name. The borrowing came through Old French "eternité," which carried the Latin "aeternitās," a noun formed from "aeternus," meaning "lasting forever" or "without age." Latin "aeternus" is itself a derivative of "aevum," an age or lifetime, so the word's core idea is simply a lifespan without end. Middle English took the French form as "eternyte," and the modern spelling settled in later. The native "ēcnes" did not survive, leaving "eternity" as the only English word for the concept.

Synonyms: forever, perpetuity, everlasting, duration, infinity

Antonyms: moment, instant, transience, temporality, finiteness