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INCESSANT
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I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
Example:
unremitting demands of hunger
Synonyms:
ceaseless; constant; incessant; never-ending; perpetual; unceasing; unremitting
Classified under:
Similar:
continuous; uninterrupted (continuing in time or space without interruption)
Derivation:
incessancy; incessantness (the quality of something that continues without end or interruption)
Context examples:
All day amid that incessant and mysterious menace our two Professors watched every bird upon the wing, and every shrub upon the bank, with many a sharp wordy contention, when the snarl of Summerlee came quick upon the deep growl of Challenger, but with no more sense of danger and no more reference to drum-beating Indians than if they were seated together in the smoking-room of the Royal Society's Club in St. James's Street.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Edward was now fixed at the cottage at least for a week;—for whatever other claims might be made on him, it was impossible that less than a week should be given up to the enjoyment of Elinor's company, or suffice to say half that was to be said of the past, the present, and the future;—for though a very few hours spent in the hard labor of incessant talking will despatch more subjects than can really be in common between any two rational creatures, yet with lovers it is different.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
Miss Tilney's manners and Henry's smile soon did away some of her unpleasant feelings; but still she was far from being at ease; nor could the incessant attentions of the general himself entirely reassure her.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
The following morning Anne was out with her friend, and for the first hour, in an incessant and fearful sort of watch for him in vain; but at last, in returning down Pulteney Street, she distinguished him on the right hand pavement at such a distance as to have him in view the greater part of the street.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
Elizabeth would not oppose such an injunction—and a moment's consideration making her also sensible that it would be wisest to get it over as soon and as quietly as possible, she sat down again and tried to conceal, by incessant employment the feelings which were divided between distress and diversion.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
He put this engine into our ears, which made an incessant noise, like that of a water-mill: and we conjecture it is either some unknown animal, or the god that he worships; but we are more inclined to the latter opinion, because he assured us, (if we understood him right, for he expressed himself very imperfectly) that he seldom did any thing without consulting it.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
We have had such incessant rains almost since October began, that we have been nearly confined to the house for days together.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
I found everything in a satisfactory state at the cottage; and was enabled to gratify my aunt exceedingly by reporting that the tenant inherited her feud, and waged incessant war against donkeys.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
He extracted great happiness from squelching her, and she squelched easily these days, though it had been different in the first years of their married life, before the brood of children and his incessant nagging had sapped her energy.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
I have to begin my report by bad news, for the first serious personal trouble (I pass over the incessant bickerings between the Professors) occurred this evening, and might have had a tragic ending.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
