Revised 2005 More entries for permanent
Factsheet
What does the word permanent mean?
There are nine meanings listed in OED's entry for the word permanent, three of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
permanent has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
plants (late 1700s) textiles (1850s) hairdressing (1920s) mathematics (1930s)
How common is the word permanent?
About 40occurrences per million words in modern written English
See frequency
How is the word permanent pronounced?
British English
/ˈpəːmənənt/
PUR-muh-nuhnt
/ˈpəːmn̩ənt/
PUR-muhn-uhnt
U.S. English
/ˈpərm(ə)nənt/
PURRM-uh-nuhnt
See pronunciation
Where does the word permanent come from?
Earliest known use
Middle English
The earliest known use of the word permanent is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).
OED's earliest evidence for permanent is from around 1425, in Book of Foundation of St. Bartholomew's.
permanent is of multiple origins. Partly a borrowing from French. Partly a borrowing from Latin.
Etymons: French permanent; Latin permanent-, permanēns.
See etymology
Nearby entries
- permaculture, n.1978–
- permaculturist, n.1991–
- permafrost, n.1943–
- permafrosted, adj.1946–
- permalink, n.1999–
- permalloy, n.1923–
- permanable, adj.?c1422–1571
- permane, v.c1485–1657
- permanence, n.1440–
- permanency, n.1555–
- permanent, adj. & n.c1425–
- permanent, v.1924–
- permanent air, n.1665–
- permanent alimony, n.1820–
- permanent blue, n.1863–
- permanent dye, n.1815–
- permanented, adj.1939–
- permanent five, n.1964–
- permanent five members, n.1952–
- permanent gas, n.1800–
- permanent hardness, n.1870–
Browse more nearby entries
Etymology
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Pronunciation
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