First Known Use: 1644
Dictionary
perennial
adjective pe·ren·ni·al \pə-ˈre-nē-əl\
of a plant : living for several years or for many years : having a life cycle that is more than two years long
: existing or continuing in the same way for a long time
: happening again and again
Full Definition of PERENNIAL
1
: present at all seasons of the year
2
: persisting for several years usually with new herbaceous growth from a perennating part <perennial asters>
3
a : persistent, enduring <perennial favorites> b : continuing without interruption : constant, perpetual <the perennial quest for certainty> <a perennial student> c : regularly repeated or renewed : recurrent <death is a perennial literary theme>
— perennial noun
— pe·ren·ni·al·ly \-nē-ə-lē\ adverb
See perennial defined for English-language learners
See perennial defined for kids
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Examples of PERENNIAL
- The problem … is inherent and perennial in any democracy, but it has been more severe in ours during the past quarter-century because of the near universal denigration of government, politics and politicians. —Michael Kinsley, Time, 29 Oct. 2001
- … scientists are warning that a perennial viral threat, the upcoming flu season, could be far more dangerous than usual—more evidence that these tiny foes are responsible for a large share of human suffering. —Claudia Wallis, Time, 3 Nov. 1986
- The issue between science and art is of perennial interest to me, since I started off in science in college, in medicine, was headed for psychiatry, and ended up writing novels … —Walker Percy, “The State Of The Novel,” 1977, in Signposts in a Strange Land, 1991
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Origin of PERENNIAL
Related to PERENNIAL
- Synonyms
- ageless, continuing, dateless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, lasting, ongoing, abiding, perpetual, timeless, undying
Synonym Discussion of PERENNIAL
continual, continuous, constant, incessant, perpetual, perennial mean characterized by continued occurrence or recurrence. continual often implies a close prolonged succession or recurrence <continual showers the whole weekend>. continuous usually implies an uninterrupted flow or spatial extension <football's oldest continuous rivalry>. constant implies uniform or persistent occurrence or recurrence <lived in constant pain>. incessant implies ceaseless or uninterrupted activity <annoyed by the incessant quarreling>. perpetual suggests unfailing repetition or lasting duration <a land of perpetual snowfall>. perennial implies enduring existence often through constant renewal <a perennial source of controversy>.
Rhymes with PERENNIAL
PERENNIAL Defined for Kids
1perennial
adjective pe·ren·ni·al \pə-ˈre-nē-əl\
Definition of PERENNIAL for Kids
1
: present all through the year <a perennial stream>
2
: living from year to year <a perennial plant>
3
: never ending : constant <perennial joy>
4
: happening again and again <perennial flooding>
2perennial
noun
Definition of PERENNIAL for Kids
: a plant that lives from year to year
Word Root of PERENNIAL
The Latin word annus, meaning “year,” gives us the root ann or enn. Words from the Latin annus have something to do with a year. Anything that is annual happens once a year and anything biennial happens once every two years. An anniversary is the return every year of the date on which something special happened. Something perennial continues all year long or comes back each year.
Medical Dictionary
perennial
adjective pe·ren·ni·al \pə-ˈren-ē-əl\
Medical Definition of PERENNIAL
: present at all seasons of the year <perennial rhinitis>
Learn More About PERENNIAL
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