English
perpetuity
Perpetuity comes from Latin perpetuitās ‘perpetuity, continuity’, from petō ‘to ask, beg, request, look for, inquire,…’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- ‘to spread out’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*peth₂-‘to spread out’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*péth₂eti‘to fly’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpetō‘to ask, beg, request, look for, inquire, petition, entreat’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEperpetuus
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEperpetuitās‘perpetuity, continuity’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400perpetüité
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500perpetuitee
- Englishearliest quotation 1951perpetuity
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*peth₂-‘to spread out’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*péth₂eti‘to fly’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEpetō‘to ask, beg, request, look for, inquire, petition, entreat’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEperpetuus
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEperpetuitās‘perpetuity, continuity’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400perpetüité
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500perpetuitee
- Englishearliest quotation 1951perpetuity
Earliest quotation: 1951, Notes and News: North Fife Line, Scotland: “Mr. Waller adds that when the railway was authorised…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- ‘to spread out’
pass, mile, expansion, expand, patent, pen, helicopter, symptom, feather, spawn, expanse, pennant, patina, pinion, patella, pata, penna, 83 more
through Proto-Indo-European *péth₂eti ‘to fly’
competent, repetition, 15 more
through Latin petō ‘to ask, beg, request, look for, inquire,…’
repeat, compete, petition, competitor, impetus, petulant, impetuous, petulance, 17 more
Today it means
noun The quality or state of being perpetual; endless duration; uninterrupted existence.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- / perpetuity