different between continual vs prolonged

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

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /p?o??l??d/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p????l??d/
• (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA^(key): /p?o??l??d/
• Hyphenation: pro?longed

Adjective

prolonged (comparative more prolonged, superlative most prolonged)

1. lengthy in duration; extended; protracted.

Synonyms

• enduring, longsome; see also Thesaurus:lasting

Antonyms

• brief, temporary; see also Thesaurus:ephemeral

Translations

Verb

prolonged

1. simple past tense and past participle of prolong