Word of the Day: Sempiternal
Pronunciation: sem-pih-TUR-nuhl
Part of Speech: Adjective
Definition:
Enduring forever; everlasting and unchanging.
Etymology and Origins
From Latin sempiternus (semper meaning “always” and aeternus meaning “eternal”), sempiternal describes things of infinite duration. Unlike eternal, which can refer to something beyond time, sempiternal conveys uninterrupted permanence within time.
Usage in Literature
- John Milton’s Paradise Lost – Descriptions of God’s power are often sempiternal.
- Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 – “So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, / So long lives this” conveys the sempiternal nature of poetry.
- T. S. Eliot’s Four Quartets – The tension between time and the sempiternal is a central theme.
Modern Application
- Philosophy & Religion: The sempiternal nature of the soul is debated in metaphysical discussions.
- Science & Astronomy: The concept applies to theories of an infinite universe.
- Poetry & Literature: “The love between them was sempiternal, untouched by time or circumstance.”
The Significance of This Word
A term of poetic grandeur, sempiternal captures the essence of that which endures beyond the fluctuations of time.