What is "eternal"

Eternal \E*ter"nal\, n.

1. One of the appellations of God.

   Law whereby the Eternal himself doth work.
   --Hooker.

2. That which is endless and immortal.
   --Young.

Eternal \E*ter"nal\, a. [F. ['e]ternel, L. aeternalis, fr. aeternus. See Etern.]

1. Without beginning or end of existence; always existing.

   The eternal God is thy refuge.
   --Deut. xxxiii. 27.

   To know wether there were any real being, whose duration has been eternal.
   --Locke.

2. Without end of existence or duration; everlasting; endless; immortal.

   That they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
   --2 Tim. ii. 10.

3. Continued without intermission; perpetual; ceaseless; constant.

   And fires eternal in thy temple shine.
   --Dryden.

4. Existing at all times without change; immutable.

   Hobbes believed the eternal truths which he opposed.
   --Dryden.

   What are the eternal objects of poetry among all nations, and at all times?
   --M. Arnold.

5. Exceedingly great or bad; -- used as a strong intensive. ``Some eternal villain.''

   The Eternal City, an appellation of Rome.

   Syn: Everlasting; endless; infinite; ceaseless; perpetual; interminable. See Everlasting.

late 14c., from Old French eternel "eternal," or directly from Late Latin aeternalis, from Latin aeternus "of an age, lasting, enduring, permanent, everlasting, endless," contraction of aeviternus "of great age," from aevum "age" (see eon). Used since Middle English both of things or conditions without beginning or end and things with a beginning only but no end. A parallel form, Middle English eterne, is from Old French eterne (cognate with Spanish eterno), directly from Latin aeternus. Related: Eternally. The Eternal (n.) for "God" is attested from 1580s.

a. Lasting forever; unending.

1. adj. continuing forever or indefinitely; "the ageless themes of love and revenge"; "eternal truths"; "life everlasting"; "hell's perpetual fires"; "the unending bliss of heaven" [syn: ageless, everlasting, perpetual, unending, unceasing]

2. lasting for an indefinitely long period of time [syn: everlasting, lasting, eonian, aeonian]

3. tiresomely long; seemingly without end; "endless debates"; "an endless conversation"; "the wait seemed eternal"; "eternal quarreling"; "an interminable sermon" [syn: endless, interminable]

Eternal(s) or The Eternal may refer to:

• Eternity, an infinite amount of time, or a timeless state
• Immortality or eternal life

Eternal is the fifth album by the Swiss heavy metal band Samael. It was released in 1999 and features black metal vocals coupled with electronics, synthesizers, samples and guitars.

Eternal is an English R&B girl group formed in 1992 with the line-up consisting of sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, Kéllé Bryan and Louise (then known as Louise Nurding). The group became an international success, selling around 10 million records worldwide. Louise left for a successful solo career in 1995. Bryan was sacked in 1998 by the other two members, who gave "a breakdown in professional relations" as the reason. The remaining duo split in 2000. They were considered the UK's answer to the American girl group En Vogue.

Eternal's 1993 debut album Always & Forever peaked at number two on the UK Album Chart and went four-times platinum in the UK. In 1997, they reached number one on the UK Singles Chart with " I Wanna Be the Only One", which won them the 1997 Mobo Award for Best Single. They also received seven Brit Award nominations. In total they achieved 15 UK Top 20 hits between 1993 and 1999, with their other Top 10 hits including " Stay" (1993), " Oh Baby I..." (1994), " Someday" (1996) and " Don't You Love Me" (1997). The group reformed as a trio without Louise Redknapp in 2013 for the second series of the ITV2 reality show The Big Reunion, and performed a one-off concert In March 2014.

Eternal is the 28th album released by The Isley Brothers on DreamWorks Records on August 7, 2001. Now popular again with audiences, almost single-handledly for Ronald Isley's "Mr. Biggs" persona, Eternal included production from not only R. Kelly who gave the Isleys their biggest hit as leading artists in over two decades with " Contagious" but also from Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Raphael Saadiq and Ronald's wife at the time, Angela Winbush. Based on the mega-success of "Contagious", Eternal peaked at #3 on the Billboard Billboard Top 200 album charts and #1 on the R&B album chart selling over two million copies having it certified double-platinum. The first album the Isleys released as a duo in over a decade ( Marvin Isley left the group after suffering a bout with diabetes, which later caused both of his legs to be amputated), Ernie Isley also showcase his talents as a guitarist in songs like "Move Your Body" and the aptly titled "Ernie's Jam" while Ronald was still as vocally strong on this album as he had been throughout the Isley Brothers' legendary catalogue.

The Eternals are a race of cosmic beings first introduced in the Doctor Who TV adventure Enlightenment. One Eternal who called himself Striker explained to the Doctor that he and his people lived outside of time, in the realm of eternity. They considered the mortal inhabitants of the universe to be "Ephemerals", even the Time Lords of the planet Gallifrey. Striker seemed completely unaware of the existence of the Time Lords before meeting the Doctor.

In the Enlightenment serial, the Doctor eventually realized that although the Eternals were powerful enough to manipulate matter, creating objects out of thin air, and read minds effortlessly through telepathy, they lacked imagination and creativity. Thus, they actually depended on "Ephemerals" to keep them active and prevent them from withering away in boredom, and without them the Eternals had no purpose; on one occasion the Doctor manages to outwit an Eternal attempt to destroy a rival ship by throwing the explosive off the ship, noting that the Eternals couldn't have accomplished that because they lacked the imagination to think of such an action. This dependence was not something they liked admitting to, however, and they made boasts several times of how they could manipulate the reality around them through sheer force of will. Despite this great power, they deferred to the Guardians of Time, specifically the White Guardian and the Black Guardian who offered the Eternals "enlightenment"- complete knowledge of good and evil- if they won a cosmic race. The Eternals captured many Ephemerals to win the race for them, hence accidentally bringing about the attention of the Doctor who immediately saw them as a threat.

Although the Eternals were never again seen in the TV series, they have been mentioned in the new TV series that began in 2005. In the episode " Army of Ghosts," the Doctor mentioned the existence of a "nowhere place" that exists between parallel universes and alternate timelines, saying that his people called it the Void while "the Eternals called it the Howling."

In the later episode " Shakespeare Code," the alien witches called Carrionites claimed that the Eternals banished them "into deep darkness" soon after the "dawn of the universe."

Eternal is the fourth studio album by Florida death metal band Malevolent Creation. It was released on May 23, 1995 via Pavement Music.It is the first album without Brett Hoffmann.

Eternal is the fourth and final studio album by the British R&B group Eternal, released in November 1999. It was the first album they recorded without former member Kelle Bryan who was sacked from the band in 1998. The album had very little promotion, only peaking at #87 on the UK Albums Chart, but was praised for its more modern R&B sound.

" What'cha Gonna Do" was the only single to be released from the album and it gave Eternal their last Top 20 hit. "I Cry Real Tears" was due to be the second single from the album, however its release was cancelled and they parted ways with EMI in early 2000. Eternal also recorded a Spanish version of "Free to live", called "Libre para vivir", which was released as a promotional single in Spain.

Eternal is a 2004 film about sixteenth-century Countess Elizabeth Báthory "repeating her crimes in modern day Montreal".

Eternal is an album by saxophonist Branford Marsalis recorded at Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, New York in October 2003. It peaked at number 9 on the Top Jazz Albums chart.

The Allmusic review by Matt Collar states "Eternal finds saxophonist Branford Marsalis in a contemplative mood performing a mix of original and standard ballads... dedicated in memory to a list of people one can only assume were as influential musically on Marsalis as emotionally. Among them are bassist Malachi Favors, drummer Elvin Jones, saxophonist Steve Lacy, and the one and only Ray Charles. Their spirits are palpable here as Marsalis and his band have clearly documented a handful of quietly beautiful and deeply moving performances".

Eternal is the fourth full-length album by Christian metal band War of Ages. The album was released in the United States on April 13, 2010. It is the last album by the band to feature rhythm guitarist Branon Bernatowicz, and bassist T.J. Alford.

"Eternal" is the first solo single by Japanese singer-songwriter and former KAT-TUN member Jin Akanishi, released on March 2, 2011 by Warner Music Japan. It topped both Oricon and Billboard Japan Hot 100 singles charts.

Eternal is the third studio album by Australian country music singer Jamie O'Neal. It was released on 27 May 2014 via Shanachie Records. Except for the first single, "Wide Awake", every song is a cover song.

Eternal is the fifteenth album by power metal band Stratovarius, released on 11 September 2015 (Europe) and 18 September (United States). Singer Timo Kotipelto composed three tracks and wrote most lyrics together with his Cain's Offering partner and former Sonata Arctica member Jani Liimatainen.

The band members have described the album as a blend of old school and modern power metal, though this direction was not planned, according to keyboardist Jens Johansson.