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Tracing “”…
Where does the word "eternal" come from? It comes from Latin aeternus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
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Where does the word "eternal" come from? It comes from Latin aeternus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Eternal’s story begins in Latin: aeternus meant “everlasting.” Everlasting, from aevum (an age, eternity). It reached English by 1300s as eternal. Settled as the English word for lasting forever, without beginning or end. Today, eternal means lasting forever, without beginning or end.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient aeternus "everlasting", everlasting, from aevum (an age, eternity).
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s eternal "lasting forever, without beginning or end", settled as the English word for lasting forever, without beginning or end.