qere perpetuum

noun

In the liturgical use of the Tanakh, a fixed substitution that is always expected when a certain written word is read out, most notably אֲדוֹנָי (ăḏônāy, literally “my Lord(s)”) for יהוה (YHVH), the name of God; an indication of such a substitution.

OriginLatin perpetuus →
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Meanings

nounqere perpetuum (plural qere perpetua)

plural qere perpetua

  1. In the liturgical use of the Tanakh, a fixed substitution that is always expected when a certain written word is read out, most notably אֲדוֹנָי (ăḏônāy, literally “my Lord(s)”) for יהוה (YHVH), the name of God; an indication of such a substitution.

Origin

  1. Latinperpetuus“perpetual”
  2. Englishqere perpetuum

From Latin perpetuus (“perpetual”). See qere.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

qere perpetuum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/qere%20perpetuum

MLA

“qere perpetuum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/qere%20perpetuum. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “qere perpetuum,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/qere%20perpetuum.

Source: qere perpetuum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.