Perpetuate
adj, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
- 1 To make (something) perpetual; to make (something) continue for an indefinite time; also, to preserve (something) from extinction or oblivion. transitive
"I am contented to contynue it for my tyme, but to perpetuate it lyeth nat in my power."
- 2 cause to continue or prevail wordnet
- 3 To make (something) perpetual; to make (something) continue for an indefinite time; also, to preserve (something) from extinction or oblivion.; To record (the testimony of a witness) which may be lost before a matter comes to trial. transitive
"If vvitneſſes to a diſputable fact are old and infirm, it is very uſual to file a bill to perpetuate the teſtimony of thoſe vvitneſſes, although no ſuit is depending; for, it may be, a man's antagoniſt only vvaits for the death of ſome of them to begin his ſuit. This is moſt frequent vvhen lands are deviſed by vvill avvay from the heir at lavv; and the deviſee, in order to perpetuate the teſtimony of the vvitneſſes to ſuch vvill, exhibits a bill in chancery againſt the heir, […]"
- 4 To prolong the existence of (something) by repetition; to reinforce. transitive
"He who praiseth obscurity perpetuateth it."
- 1 Perpetual, or made perpetual; continued for an indefinite time.
"The wele suertie and comfort perpetuat of theym ther heires and successours."
Example
More examples"Every nation seeks to perpetuate itself."
Etymology
(16th century) From earlier perpetuat, learned borrowing from Latin perpetuātus (“perpetuated”), perfect passive participle of perpetuō (“to cause to continue uninterruptedly, to proceed with continually, to make perpetual, perpetuate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from perpetuus (“everlasting, perpetual”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix), from per- (“thoroughly, very”) + petō (“to ask, request; to look for; to make for (somewhere)”) + -uus (forms adjectives from verbal stems), literally “that is asked with great zeal, over and over again”, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- (“to spread out; to fly”). Cognates * Catalan perpetuar * Italian perpetuare * Old French perpetué (adjective) (Middle French perpetué (adjective)); Middle French perpétuer (verb) (modern French perpétuer (verb)) * Old Occitan perpetuar * Portuguese perpetuar * Spanish perpetuar
From earlier preparat (see Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more).
Related phrases
More for "perpetuate"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.