Definition: eternal

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

eternal
     adj 1: continuing forever or indefinitely; "the ageless themes of
            love and revenge"; "eternal truths"; "life
            everlasting"; "hell's perpetual fires"; "the unending
            bliss of heaven" [syn: ageless, everlasting, perpetual,
             unending, unceasing]
     2: lasting for an indefinitely long period of time [syn: everlasting,
         lasting, eonian, aeonian]
     3: tiresomely long; seemingly without end; "endless debates";
        "an endless conversation"; "the wait seemed eternal";
        "eternal quarreling"; "an interminable sermon" [syn: endless,
         interminable]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Eternal \E*ter"nal\, n.
   1. One of the appellations of God.

            Law whereby the Eternal himself doth work. --Hooker.

   2. That which is endless and immortal. --Young.
Eternal \E*ter"nal\, a. [F. ['e]ternel, L. aeternalis, fr.
   aeternus. See Etern.]
   1. Without beginning or end of existence; always existing.

            The eternal God is thy refuge.        --Deut.
                                                  xxxiii. 27.

            To know wether there were any real being, whose
            duration has been eternal.            --Locke.

   2. Without end of existence or duration; everlasting;
      endless; immortal.

            That they may also obtain the salvation which is in
            Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.     --2 Tim. ii.
                                                  10.

   3. Continued without intermission; perpetual; ceaseless;
      constant.

            And fires eternal in thy temple shine. --Dryden.

   4. Existing at all times without change; immutable.

            Hobbes believed the eternal truths which he opposed.
                                                  --Dryden.

            What are the eternal objects of poetry among all
            nations, and at all times?            --M. Arnold.

   5. Exceedingly great or bad; -- used as a strong intensive.
      ``Some eternal villain.''

   The Eternal City, an appellation of Rome.

   Syn: Everlasting; endless; infinite; ceaseless; perpetual;
        interminable. See Everlasting.