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EVERLASTING
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Any of various plants of various genera of the family Compositae having flowers that can be dried without loss of form or color
Synonyms:
everlasting; everlasting flower
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("everlasting" is a kind of...):
composite; composite plant (considered the most highly evolved dicotyledonous plants, characterized by florets arranged in dense heads that resemble single flowers)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "everlasting"):
Acroclinium roseum; pink-and-white everlasting; pink paper daisy (flower of southwestern Australia having bright pink daisylike papery flowers; grown for drying)
Anaphalis margaritacea; cottonweed; pearly everlasting (an American everlasting having foliage with soft wooly hairs and corymbose heads with pearly white bracts)
cudweed (any of numerous plants of the genus Gnaphalium having flowers that can be dried without loss of form or color)
golden everlasting; Helichrysum bracteatum; strawflower; yellow paper daisy (Australian plant naturalized in Spain having flowers of lemon yellow to deep gold; the frequent choice of those who love dried flowers)
strawflower (any of various plants of the genus Helipterum)
cascade everlasting; Helichrysum secundiflorum; Ozothamnus secundiflorus (shrub with white woolly branches and woolly leaves having fragrant flowers forming long sprays; flowers suitable for drying; sometimes placed in genus Helichrysum)
Helipterum manglesii; rhodanthe; Rhodanthe manglesii; Swan River everlasting (Australian annual everlasting having light pink nodding flower heads; sometimes placed in genus Helipterum)
immortelle; Xeranthemum annuum (mostly widely cultivated species of everlasting flowers having usually purple flowers; southern Europe to Iran; naturalized elsewhere)
Holonyms ("everlasting" is a member of...):
aster family; Asteraceae; Compositae; family Asteraceae; family Compositae (plants with heads composed of many florets: aster; daisy; dandelion; goldenrod; marigold; lettuces; ragweed; sunflower; thistle; zinnia)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers
Example:
the unadulterated truth
Synonyms:
arrant; complete; consummate; double-dyed; everlasting; gross; perfect; pure; sodding; staring; stark; thorough; thoroughgoing; unadulterated; utter
Classified under:
Similar:
unmitigated (not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity; sometimes used as an intensifier)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Continuing forever or indefinitely
Example:
the unending bliss of heaven
Synonyms:
aeonian; ageless; eonian; eternal; everlasting; perpetual; unceasing; unending
Classified under:
Similar:
lasting; permanent (continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place)
Derivation:
everlastingness (the property of lasting forever)
Context examples:
In the afternoon, while the cook was below asleep and I was peeling the everlasting potatoes, Louis dropped into the galley for a “yarn.”
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Had I right, for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generations?
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
But he sent it; and it was published, to the everlasting regret of the editor.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
I was reading that everlasting Belsham, and droning away as I always do, for Aunt soon drops off, and then I take out some nice book, and read like fury till she wakes up.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
As I writhed about I could see in his eyes that curiosity I had so often noted, that wonder and perplexity, that questing, that everlasting query of his as to what it was all about.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Your toils only begin; wrap yourself in furs and provide food, for we shall soon enter upon a journey where your sufferings will satisfy my everlasting hatred.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
It is an everlasting pain in you, a wound that does not heal, a knife of flame.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
She looked forward to our union with placid contentment, not unmingled with a little fear, which past misfortunes had impressed, that what now appeared certain and tangible happiness might soon dissipate into an airy dream and leave no trace but deep and everlasting regret.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
Then there was business to be transacted, bills to be paid, and everlasting reporters to be endured.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
When life became an aching weariness, death was ready to soothe away to everlasting sleep.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
