SEMPITERNAL

[Dr. Goodword]

• sempiternal •

Pronunciation: sem-pee-têr-nêl • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Adjective

Meaning: Emphatically eternal, everlasting, without beginning or end.

Notes: The question naturally arises, If we have eternal, why do we need today's Good Word? This is a good word to emphasize infiniteness or length of time in hyperboles. You can emphasize the idea of infiniteness in adjectival, adverbial (sempiternally), or noun form (sempiternality). "Why do you sempiternally ask questions?!" is more emphatic than the same sentence with eternally. Look out for the I in the middle of this word where you might expect an E.

In Play: Here is a dreamy example: "Greenpasture is a devoted potamophile who loves to stretch out along the riverbank and listen to the sempiternal flow of its waters." (Greenpasture, of course, does not live in the US southwest where rivers usually flow annually, not sempiternally.) You will probably, however, have more opportunities to use this word in hyperboles than in its literal sense: "The Bickertons's sempiternal bickering got on everybody's nerves."

Word History: Today's Good Word seems to have been around eternally. It comes to us via French from the Latin compound adjective sempiternalis, based on semper "always" (as in the US Marine motto, semper fidelis "always faithful") + aeternus "eternal". Semper comes from a root meaning "as one, same, together" found in English same, Russian sam "self", Sanskrit sam "together", and Greek homo "same". Aeternus comes from PIE *aiwo-t- + the Latin time suffix -ernus. The same complex, *aiwo-t, reached English directly as aught.

[LukeJavan8]

Only in singing old Gregorian Chants of the Liturgy in Latin
in chorus and choir as a boy/youth. Not in English.

[beck123]

The question naturally arises, If we have eternal, why do we need today's Good Word?

I've often thought that when these extra syllables have been added to words (or extra words to phrases,) it may have been done originally to have a passage conform to the meter of a poetic work. I have no evidence to support this, but poetic forms were popular many years ago, and it just seems to make sense. There are more than enough poetic contractions that accomplish the same object, so why not suspect the introduction of poetic elongations?

[beck123]

Also, in Doc's "dreamy example" I was certain that the word "riparian" would make an appearance.

[LukeJavan8]

Also, in Doc's "dreamy example" I was certain that the word "riparian" would make an appearance.

At the bank of a river, or natural watercourse?
Thanks to Merriam/Web. It is a beautiful word.
I have a creek about 10 feet wide flowing thru my
yard, but I never thought of it as riparian. Should
do so however. Nice word.

[beck123]

As I understand the word, the creek itself is not riparian, but the creek's presence makes the land on either side - the banks of the creek - riparian.

The riparian environment may extend some distance from the river itself; it will include all land influenced grossly by the presence of the river. Think of the riparian influence of the Nile as it flows through the desert.

[LukeJavan8]

True, it is the banks, not the creek itself, though the
banks define the creek in a way. The banks here
play host to a new set of plants, be they weeds or
other "riparian" guests, I am not sure, each year.
I wish I had kept a record of the newness of the
weed from the beginning, it would have been a curious
and impressive list. They come and go, a few have
stayed, one being a vine of pernicious nature, and
very difficult to eradicate.

[beck123]

Railroads and highways also act as vectors for the seeds of plants here in the U.S., enabling them to travel long distances. One can find northern plants and their associated insects along certain railways here in Florida.

[LukeJavan8]

And I'm sure it goes in reverse as well.
A really sempiternal circle.

I still like the word from Latin songs as a boy
in Liturgy, this word appeared frequently in
the old Latin ritual for the dead: Requiem.

[beck123]

It may not work so well in reverse, because of the lack of any cold-hardiness in most southern plants. East-to-west (and vice versa) probably is fairly common. I can imagine woodland plant seeds from the riparian environment along the Mississippi - or even prairie plants - being transported over the western ranges by train into the valleys of California

[LukeJavan8]

And the discussion re-appeared here, to which slava
alluded in the first posting below it. I am not sure
why they seem to re-appear, but it is a good word
for discussion wherever it is posted.

http://www.alphadictionary.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=603

[LukeJavan8]

In the old pre-Vatican II liturgy for the Dead,
just prior to the communion rite, the tri-partite
"Agnus Dei" (Lamb of God) was sung. At the
conclusion of the third time this word was the
last word in the rendition:
"Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis
requiem, sepiternam".
(Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,
give him/her rest, eternally".)

[saparris]

As I understand the word, the creek itself is not riparian, but the creek's presence makes the land on either side - the banks of the creek - riparian.

In real estate, riparian rights have to do with property located on rivers and streams, whereas littoral rights are concerned with property located on lakes and oceans.

Often, the nature of the body of water also define ownership. On non-navigable waterways, such a stream or creek, property lines may extend to the middle of the water.

This is not the case with property located on a lake or ocean.

In both instances, the rights are concerned with what an owner can do (or not do). You can usually build a dock on a lake for your enjoyment, but you can't stop recreational boaters from using "your" part of the lake.

Likewise, even if you own to the middle of a stream, you can't build a dam or redirect the water so that in affects owners downstream.

[LukeJavan8]

This creek in my yard passes down the block and continues
from whence it came to wherever it goeth: at any rate
my property line is considered to be in the middle
of the creek, according to the 'deed".

[saparris]

my property line is considered to be in the middle of the creek, according to the 'deed".

Then you probably have some riparian rights--like skinny dipping on your part. Wouldn't suggest is this time of year.