Lasting forever, without beginning or end. It can also be used more loosely to describe something that feels endless.
From Latin *aeternalis* 'of an age, eternal', from *aeternus* 'everlasting', related to *aevum* 'age, lifetime'. The word has long been used in religious and philosophical contexts.
Eternal stretches the human idea of time past its limits—our brains can’t really picture 'no beginning and no end'. Yet we use it casually: 'eternal homework', 'eternal love'. The word shows how language lets us point to things we can’t truly imagine.
The idea of 'eternal' feminine or masculine qualities has been used in philosophy, religion, and literature to portray gender roles as timeless and unchangeable. Such rhetoric has justified resistance to reforms in women’s rights and gender norms by framing them as violations of something eternal.
Avoid describing gender roles or stereotypes as 'eternal'; instead, treat them as historically and culturally situated.
["everlasting (for time)","timeless (for style/art)","perpetual"]
When encountering claims about an 'eternal feminine' or similar notions, examine how they have constrained women’s options and highlight thinkers who challenged these narratives.
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