(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
1
To make (something) perpetual; to make (something) continue for an indefinite time; also, to preserve (something) from extinction or oblivion.
I am contented to contynue it for my tyme, but to perpetuate it lyeth nat in my power.1530, John Palsgrave, Lesclarcissement:
To the ſupportiue perpetuating of your canonized reputation, vvholie this booke haue I deſtined.1593, Tho[mas] Nashe, “To the Most Honored, and Vertvovs Beavtified Ladie, the Ladie Elizabeth Carey: […]”, in Christs Teares Over Ierusalem. […], London: […] Iames Roberts, and are to be solde by Andrewe Wise, […], →OCLC:
4 more examples
Noah gaue a ſacrifice of praiſe for his deliuerie from the floud, and God being praiſed for that one deliuerance, perpetuateth his benefit, and promiſeth an euerlaſting deliuerance to the earth from any more flouds.1619, Francis Rous, “Of Prayer”, in The Arte of Happines. […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Iohn Parker, […], →OCLC, pages 342–343:
The ſecond part of the Tropick, perpetuateth the Council of State, by the election of five Knights, out of the firſt Region of the Senate, to be the firſt Region of that Council, conſiſting of fifteen Knights, five in every Region.1656, James Harrington, “Epitome of the Whole Common-wealth”, in The Commonwealth of Oceana, London: […] [John Streater] for D[aniel] Pakeman, […], →OCLC, page 276:
Then Bl——re ſhall this Favour ovve to thee, / That thou perpetuat'ſt his Memory.1711, James Drake, “To Dr. Garth, on the Fourth Edition of His Incomparable Poem, The Dispensary; Occasion’d by Some Lines in the Satyr against Wit”, in Thomas Brown, compiler, The Fourth Volume of the Works of Mr. Thomas Brown, […], London: […] Sam[uel] Briscoe, and sold by J[ohn] Morphew […], and Ja[mes] Woodward […], →OCLC, page 199:
I am very well pleased with a medal which was struck by Queen Elizabeth, a little after the defeat of the invincible armada, to perpetuate the memory of that extraordinary event.1712 February 15 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “MONDAY, February 5, 1711–1712”, in The Spectator, number 293; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 463:
2
Law To record (the testimony of a witness) which may be lost before a matter comes to trial.
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, […]1768, William Blackstone, “Of Proceedings in the Courts of Equity”, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book III (Of Private Wrongs), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 450:
It appears to me that this bill makes out no case for perpetuating testimony. Although it was true that the validity of the will could not, by reason of the lease, be immediately tried with the devises in trust, yet it may be immediately tried by an action for rent against the tenant. Testimony can be perpetuated only where by no means the Plaintiff can presently assert his title to the property.1822 December 17, John Leach, Vice-Chancellor, “Dew v. Clarke”, in The English Reports, volume LVII (Vice-Chancellor’s Court, volume II), Edinburgh: William Green & Sons; London: Stevens & Sons, published October 1905, →OCLC, page 46:
3
To prolong the existence of (something) by repetition; to reinforce.
He who praiseth obscurity perpetuateth it.1852, Moses Stuart, “Introduction”, in A Commentary on the Book of Proverbs, New York, N.Y.: M. W. Dodd, […], →OCLC, § 17 (Specimen of Arabic Proverbs), paragraph 64, page 116:
[T]he major players […] have the most to either gain from perpetuating the lie to morally or ethically acknowledge the wrong of their actions.2010, Rodney Lee Smith, “The Twenty-one Principles of a Lie”, in The 21 Principles of a Lie: The Logic of the Illogical, Mustang, Okla.: Tate Publishing & Enterprises, →ISBN, page 169:
Etymology From earlier preparat (see Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more).
1
Perpetual, or made perpetual; continued for an indefinite time.
Archaic except poetic
The wele suertie and comfort perpetuat of theym ther heires and successours.1503-1504, “32, Preambule”, in Act 19, Henry VII:
The trees and flowers remain / By Nature's care perpetuate and self-sown.1801, Robert Southey, “The First Book”, in Thalaba the Destroyer, volume I, London: […] [F]or T[homas] N[orton] Longman and O[wen] Rees, […], by Biggs and Cottle, […], →OCLC, page 24:
1 more example
To be perpetuate for my mightiness / Sculpture must image me when I am gone.1922, Thomas Hardy, “The Children and Sir Nameless”, in Late Lyrics and Earlier with Many Other Verses, London: Macmillan and Co., […], →OCLC, stanza 2, page 134: