Perpetuate Meaning

/pəˈpɛt͡ʃʊeɪt/
B2

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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verbTo make (something) perpetual; to make (something) continue for an indefinite time; also, to preserve (something) from extinction or oblivion.

verbTo make (something) perpetual; to make (something) continue for an indefinite time; also, to preserve (something) from extinction or oblivion., To record (the testimony of a witness) which may be lost before a matter comes to trial.

Every nation seeks to perpetuate itself.
Lonely people perpetuate their own loneliness through their fear of others.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Spreading false stories about the event will only ____ the misunderstanding among people.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Stereotypes in the media can ____ harmful misconceptions about certain groups in society.

(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 *peth₂- (“to spread out; to fly”). Cognates * Catalan perpetuar * Italian perpetuare * Old French perpetué (adjective) (Middle French perpetué (adjective)); Middle French perpétuer (verb) (modern French perpétuer (verb)) * Old Occitan perpetuar * Portuguese perpetuar * Spanish perpetuar

"I am contented to contynue it for my tyme, but to perpetuate it lyeth nat in my power." — 1530, John Palsgrave, Lesclarcissement:
"To the ſupportiue perpetuating of your canonized reputation, vvholie this booke haue I deſtined." — 1593, Tho[mas] Nashe, “To the Most Honored, and Vertvovs Beavtified Ladie, the Ladie Elizabeth Carey: […]”, in Christs Teares Over Ierusalem. […], London: […] Iames Roberts, and are to be solde by Andrewe Wise, […], →OCLC:
"Noah gaue a ſacrifice of praiſe for his deliuerie from the floud, and God being praiſed for that one deliuerance, perpetuateth his benefit, and promiſeth an euerlaſting deliuerance to the earth from any more flouds." — 1619, Francis Rous, “Of Prayer”, in The Arte of Happines. […], London: […] W[illiam] Stansby for Iohn Parker, […], →OCLC, pages 342–343:
"The ſecond part of the Tropick, perpetuateth the Council of State, by the election of five Knights, out of the firſt Region of the Senate, to be the firſt Region of that Council, conſiſting of fifteen Knights, five in every Region." — 1656, James Harrington, “Epitome of the Whole Common-wealth”, in The Commonwealth of Oceana, London: […] [John Streater] for D[aniel] Pakeman, […], →OCLC, page 276:
"Then Bl——re ſhall this Favour ovve to thee, / That thou perpetuat'ſt his Memory." — 1711, James Drake, “To Dr. Garth, on the Fourth Edition of His Incomparable Poem, The Dispensary; Occasion’d by Some Lines in the Satyr against Wit”, in Thomas Brown, compiler, The Fourth Volume of the Works of Mr. Thomas Brown, […], London: […] Sam[uel] Briscoe, and sold by J[ohn] Morphew […], and Ja[mes] Woodward […], →OCLC, page 199:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
Spreading false stories about the event will only ____ the misunderstanding among people.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Stereotypes in the media can ____ harmful misconceptions about certain groups in society.

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