tr.v., -at·ed, -at·ing, -ates.
- To cause to continue indefinitely; make perpetual.
- To prolong the existence of; cause to be remembered: The new library will perpetuate its founder's great love of learning.
[Latin perpetuāre, perpetuāt-, from perpetuus, continuous. See perpetual.]
perpetuance per·pet'u·ance or per·pet'u·a'tion n.perpetuator per·pet'u·a'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
