permanent (English)

Where does "permanent" come from?

The English adjective 'permanent' entered the language in the 15th century[1], coming through Middle English 'permanent'[1] and Middle French 'permanent'[1]. These forms trace back to the Latin present participle 'permanēns'[1][2], derived from the verb 'permaneō'[2][3]. This Latin verb combines 'per-' meaning 'through'[3] with 'maneō' meaning 'I remain'[3], ultimately connecting to the Proto-Indo-European root '*men-' meaning 'to stay'[1].

Open questions

• The ultimate connection to the Proto-Indo-European root '*men-' involves reconstructed forms. [1] [2]

Full etymology tree

• permanent (English), 'Without end, eternal.'
  • inherited permanent (Middle English)
    • borrowed permanent (Middle French), 'permanent'
      • inherited permanens (Latin), 'lasting, continuing, ongoing'
        • derived permaneo (Latin), 'to stay to the end, hold out'
          • prefix per- (Latin), 'Used to make adjectives or verbs that are "very" something.'
            • inherited *peri- (Proto-Italic)
              • inherited *peri (Proto-Indo-European)
          • derived maneo (Latin), 'to stay, remain, abide'
            • inherited *monēō (Proto-Italic), 'to stay, remain'
              • inherited *men-der (Proto-Indo-European)

Ancestors

• permanent (Middle French)
• permanens (Latin)

Descendants and derived words

• permanently (English)
• impermanent (English)
• nonpermanent (English)
• permacath (English)
• permaculture (English)
• permalancer (English)
• permanental (English)
• permanent brain (English)
• permanent contract (English)
• permanent dirt (English)
• permanent income hypothesis (English)
• permanentize (English)

Sources

1. permanent (English) - Wiktionary
2. permanens (Latin) - Wiktionary
3. permaneo (Latin) - Wiktionary

Updated September 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris