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# perpetuity

noun (perpetuity, uncountable)

«perpetuity» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal, law) Lasting for ever or for an endless time; mostly in the phrase «in perpetuity» (for ever). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perpetuity/#m1)
2. (money) A payment that goes on for ever. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perpetuity/#m2)

### In the lessons

In law, money and adult life, papers say land, a grave or a right is given «in perpetuity», meaning it can never end. In stories it sounds grand and serious. Phrases: «in perpetuity», «for perpetuity».

### Examples

- The land was given to the town in perpetuity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perpetuity/#x1)
- The grave is kept in perpetuity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perpetuity/#x2)
- The charity owns the park in perpetuity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perpetuity/#x3)
- The rights to the song belong to her in perpetuity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perpetuity/#x4)
- They promised to protect the forest in perpetuity. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perpetuity/#x5)
- A perpetuity pays the same amount every year, for ever. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perpetuity/#x6)

### Note

Uncountable. Very formal; in everyday speech say «for ever». Pronounced per-pe-TYOO-i-tee. Related: perpetual (never-ending), perpetuate (make something continue).

## In Jewish tradition

In Leviticus 25:23 the land cannot be sold forever, because it really belongs to God.

**Interpretation.** This is the law of the Jubilee: land returns to its original family every fiftieth year. Tradition reads it as teaching that people are only "strangers and settlers" before God.

### Examples

- And the land shall not be sold in perpetuity; for the land is Mine; for ye are strangers and settlers with Me. (Torah LEV.25.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perpetuity/#x1)

### Note

Uncountable. Very formal; in everyday speech say «for ever». Pronounced per-pe-TYOO-i-tee. Related: perpetual (never-ending), perpetuate (make something continue).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «perpetuity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/perpetuity/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«perpetuity» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/perpetuity.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «perpetuity» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/perpetuity/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«perpetuity» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/perpetuity.html) on Mova free.