forever

== English == === Alternative forms === for ever (chiefly British) fore'er, for e'er (dialectal or poetic, otherwise archaic) Forever (noun, poetic) === Etymology === Univerbation of for ever, from Middle English for ever, for evere. By surface analysis, for +‎ ever. First attested in the late 14c., and first attested in the late 17c. as one word. Noun first attested in 1858. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /fəˈɹɛvə(ɹ)/ (General American) IPA(key): /fəˈɹɛvɚ/, /fɚˈɛvɚ/, /fɔɹˈɛvɚ/ Rhymes: -ɛvə(ɹ) === Adverb === forever (not comparable) (duration) For all time, for all eternity; for a lifetime; for an infinite amount of time. Synonyms: forevermore, in aeternum (duration, colloquial, hyperbolic) For a very long time, a seeming eternity. (frequency) Constantly or frequently. ==== Usage notes ==== In the United Kingdom and most of the Commonwealth, the spelling for ever may be used instead of forever for the senses for all time and for a long time. In Canada and the United States, generally only forever is used, regardless of sense. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === forever (countable and uncountable, plural forevers) (countable, colloquial) An extremely long time. (uncountable, colloquial or poetic) A mythical time in the future that will never come. ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === forever (not comparable) (chiefly informal) Permanent, lasting; constant, perpetual. ==== Derived terms ====