[f. as prec. + -NESS.]
1. The quality, condition, or fact of being everlasting (see the senses of the adj.). a. In etymological senses: Endless existence; perpetual continuance; unlimited durability. b. In extended sense = ETERNITY 1: The having neither beginning nor end of existence.
a. 1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VIII. ii. (1495), 300. The nobilyte of heuen … in purenesse and euerlastyngnes.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 144. Evyrlastyngnesse, eternitas.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Perpetuité, euerlastingnesse.
1648. Herrick, Hesper., To Sir R. Stone. No lesse Strong than the heavens for everlastingnesse.
1656. Jeanes, Mixt. Schol. Div., 50. A perswasion of the soules everlastingnesse is needfull.
1664. Evelyn, Sylva (1776), 343. The everlastingness of the wood [Cypress].
1730–6. Bailey (folio), Everlastingness, durable nature.
1850. T. T. Lynch, Theoph. Trinal, ii. 20. He was meditating Christianity … and its everlastingness.
1865. Pusey, Truth Eng. Ch., 14. He affirmed the everlastingness of future punishment.
b. 1565. Jewel, Repl. Harding (1611), 225. [Our Lord] hath mingled the nature of his owne flesh to the nature of his euerlastingnesse vnder the Sacrament.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, iv. 50. He hath neither beginning nor end, which thing wee call Euerlastingnes.… And so Gods being is altogether at once, which is the peculiar propertie of euerlastingnes.
1880. Cheyne, Isaiah, I. 242. The idea of the Divine everlastingness is one of the primary notes of the prophecy.
2. Infinite time; = ETERNITY 2. a. properly, The future eternity; endless duration. Also pl. † b. In extended sense: The absolute eternity, without beginning or end, or the past eternity without beginning (obs.).
a. 1382. Wyclif, Dan. xii. 3. Thei that lemen, or enfourmen, manye to riȝtwisnesse [shuln shyne] as sterris in to euerlastyngnessis. Ibid., 2 Pet. iii. 18. To him [Crist] glory and now and in to the day of euerelastingenesse.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 90. And that euerlastingnesse verily is perpetual and hath no end.
a. 1631. Donne, Serm., ciii. IV. 385. There cannot be two Everlastingnesses in the torments of Hell.
a. 1653. Gouge, Comm. Hebr. i. 5 (1655), 45. This extent of the promise to everlastingnesse.
b. 1388. Wyclif, Isa. lvii. 15. The Lord … that dwellith in euerlastyngnesse.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Esdras viii. 20. Thou that dwellest in euerlastyngnesse.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 1039/1. That life was giuen them before all euerlastingnesse.
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Peter i. 1. 10. Future glory … was from everlastingnesse prepared for those servants!
† 3. Eternity as opposed to time; the future state; eternal welfare. Obs.
c. 1430. trans. T. à Kempis, 99. Not sekyng þo þinges þat are þyn … ner in tyme, ner in euerlastingnes.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 240. For thys lyfe tyme is verey shorte and vncerten, therefore must they thinke of an euerlastingnes.
1650. Baxter, Saints’ R., IV. v. § 3. What a step is it from hence to Everlastingness?
1681. Glanvill, Sadducismus, I. (1726), 46. If such can barter their souls for Trifles and sell Everlastingness for a Moment.
b. fig. regarded as an entity.
1627–47. Feltham, Resolves, I. lxiv. 197. [These] all prove it [a soul] a shoot of Everlastingness.
1655. H. Vaughan, Silex Scint., I. 52. My conscience … felt through all this fleshly dresse Bright shootes of everlastingness.
1846. I. Williams, Baptistery, Voices of Dead, 175. Visiting with starlike gleams Of everlastingness.
