different between continual vs endless

English

Alternative forms

• continuall (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English continuel, from Old French continuel, formed from Latin continuus (“continuous”) with the suffix -el.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?t?nju?l/, /k?n?t?nj?l/
• Hyphenation: con?tin?u?al, con?tin?ual

Adjective

continual (not comparable)

1. Recurring in steady, rapid succession.
2. (proscribed) Seemingly continuous; appearing to have no end or interruption.
3. (proscribed) Forming a continuous series.

Usage notes

In careful usage, continual refers to repeated actions “continual objections”, while continuous refers to uninterrupted actions or objects “continuous flow”, “played music continuously from dusk to dawn”. However, this distinction is not observed in informal usage, a noted example being the magic spell name “continual light” (unbroken light), in the game Dungeons & Dragons.

Related terms

• continuance
• continuation
• continue
• continuous
• continuum

Translations

References

Further reading

• continual in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• continual in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• inoculant

English

Etymology

From Middle English endeles, from Old English endel?as (“endless”), from Proto-Germanic *andijalausaz (“endless”), equivalent to end +? -less.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??ndl?s/, /??ndl?s/
• Hyphenation: end?less

Adjective

endless (not comparable)

1. Having no end.

   endless time; endless praise

2. Extending indefinitely.

   an endless line

3. (obsolete) Without profitable end; fruitless; unsatisfying.

   • All loves are endless.

Synonyms

• (having no end): unending; see also Thesaurus:endless
• (extending indefinitely): eternal, infinite, unlimited; see also Thesaurus:infinite or Thesaurus:eternal

Antonyms

• finite
• limited

Derived terms

• endlessly
• endlessness

Translations

Anagrams

• Seldens