eternity

plural eternities · alternative obsolete æternitie · alternative obsolete æternity

1. uncountableExistence without end, infinite time.

   This theory regards creation as an act of God in eternity past.

   1886, Augustus Hopkins Strong, Systematic Theology: a Compendium and Commonplace-book Designed for the Use of Theological Students, page 190

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   Eternity has generally been considered as divisible into two parts; which have been termed, eternity a parte ante, and eternity a parte post: that is, in plain English, that eternity which is past, and that eternity which is to come.

   1829, John Wesley, Sermons on Several Occasions, 10th edition, volume 2, Sermon LVIII: On the Eternity of God, page 1

   Those who like not the company of the saints on earth will get none of it in eternity; but, as godless company is their delight now, they will afterwards get enough of it, when they have eternity to pass in the roaring and blaspheming society of devils and reprobates in hell.

   2000, Thomas Boston, Human Nature in Its Fourfold State, page 247

   Synonyms: all time

2. uncountablehuman sciencesExistence outside of time.

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   We sometimes speak of eternity in contradistinction to time; and often say, "through time and into eternity;" and again "from eternity to eternity," which is simply another form of expressing the same idea, and "pass through time into eternity." in other words, time is a short period allotted to man in his probationary state—and we use the word time in contradistinction to the word eternity, merely for the accommodation of man in his finite sphere, that we may comprehend and learn to measure periods.

   1879, Erastus Snow, “Rest Signifies Change, etc.”, in Brigham Young, editor, Journal of Discourses, volume 21, published 1881

   Synonyms: atemporality

3. countableA period of time which extends infinitely far into the future.

   Every niche was filled by a funeral urn, and by marble shapes that bent down in a pale eternity of sorrow.

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Marriage”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 220

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   No limit / Not none that I can see / No limit / Not one, not one / Not one for you or me / No limit / Well, it can go until eternity, yeah / No limits to our love, girl

   1978, Breakwater, “No Limit”, in Breakwater

   Synonyms: evermore, forever, foreverhood

4. countableuncountablemetaphysicsThe remainder of time that elapses after death.

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   When the wind blows not, where, then, is the wind? / Or when thou art not living, where art thou? / What should the wind care for the hours of calm or thou for death? / Thy life is long, Eternity is short. / So short that, shouldst thou die and Eternity should pass, and after the passing of Eternity thou shouldst live again, thou wouldst say: ‘I closed mine eyes but for an instant.’

   1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], “Pegāna”, in The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC, pages 75–76

   Synonyms: afterlife

5. countableexcessiveinformaluncountableA comparatively long time.

   It's been an eternity since we last saw each other.

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   I had to wait in the station for ten days - an eternity.

   1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 208

   Synonyms: an age