perpetuate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   cause to continue or prevail

   perpetuate a myth

2. 2
   verb

   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.

3. 3
   verb

   To prolong the existence of (something) by repetition; to reinforce.

   He who praiseth obscurity perpetuateth it.

4. 4
   adj

   Perpetual, or made perpetual; continued for an indefinite time.

   The wele suertie and comfort perpetuat of theym ther heires and successours.

Etymology

(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…