a. Obs. Also ÆVITERNAL. [f. L. æviternus (whence by contraction æternus), f. æv-um age + -AL. Cf. Fr. eviternel (16th c. in Godef.), which may be the source.
In med.L. æviternus (owing to its more obvious connection with the etymon ævum) was sometimes used to express eternity of duration, as contrasted with the notion of timelessness expressed by æternus.]
= ETERNAL; used esp. with reference to future duration (see quot. s.v. ÆVITERNAL). Johnson’s explanation (quot. 1755) is not supported by our examples.
1596. Fitz-Geffrey, Sir F. Drake (1881), 33. Celestiall Goddesse, eviternall Fame, Minerva’s daughter by faire Maia’s sonne.
1600. Tourneur, Transf. Met., Prol. A iv. What pallid spirit tells of strange euents? Of euiternal night?
1611. T. Farnaby, Panegyr. Verses, in Coryat, Crudities. Hang monuments of eviternall glory … to th’ honour of Thomas Coryate.
1652. Bp. Hall, Myst. Godl., § 9 (1808), VI. 435. The angels are truly existing, spiritual, intelligent, powerful, eviternal creatures.
1755. Johnson, Eviternal, eternal in a limited sense; of duration not infinitely but indefinitely long.
Hence † Eviternally adv. = ETERNALLY.
1609. Bp. Hall, Passion Serm., Wks. (1627), 437. The body hangs on the crosse, the soule is yeelded; the Godhead is euiternally vnited to them both.
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 6. The Soule, is an Essence … eviternally subsisting, and immortall as Angels are.
