- 1
To perpetuate something is to keep it going, to stop it from dying out. We mostly say this when that something is bad: a , a stereotype, an unfair system, a family fight that nobody ends.
To perpetuate something perpetuate某件事 is to keep it going就是讓它繼續下去, to stop it from dying out不讓它消失。We mostly say this when that something is bad我們通常在那件事是不好的時候這樣說: a rumour, a stereotype, an unfair system, a family fight that nobody ends像是謠言、刻板印象、不公平的制度、沒有人終結的家族糾紛。
If you repeat a lie, you perpetuate it. If a school always treats one group as “the naughty class”, it perpetuates that idea.
If you repeat a lie如果你一直重複一個謊言, you perpetuate it你就是perpetuate它。If a school always treats one group as "the naughty class"如果一間學校總是把某一群人當成「壞班」, it perpetuates that idea那就是perpetuate這個想法。
You can perpetuate something good, like a tradition, but the word often carries a sigh: this should have ended, and yet it goes on.
You can perpetuate something good, like a tradition你也可以perpetuate好的事物像是一項傳統, but the word often carries a sigh但這個字常常帶著一聲嘆息: this should have ended, and yet it goes on這本該結束了卻還是繼續著。
It does not mean “make perfect”, and it does not mean “commit a crime” — that is .
It does not mean "make perfect"它不是「使完美」的意思, and it does not mean "commit a crime"也不是「犯罪」的意思 — that lookalike is perpetrate長得很像的那個字是perpetrate。
The related adjective perpetual means going on and on; a perpetual motion machine is the dream of something that never stops.
The related adjective perpetual相關的形容詞perpetual means going on and on意思是一直持續下去; a perpetual motion machineperpetual motion machine（永動機） is the dream of something that never stops就是那種永遠不會停止的夢想機器。
組成From Latin perpetuāre, “to make perpetual”, from perpetuus “everlasting”. That is per- (“thoroughly”) + petō (“to go toward, to seek”) + an adjective ending: something you keep going after, on and on. English uses -ate to make the verb.
同家族的字
- perpetualthe adjective: going on and on, without stopping
- perpetuitythe noun: a state of lasting for ever, often in law or money
原始詞典資料4 筆記錄
以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。
perpetuateverb詞源 1/pəˈpɛt͡ʃʊeɪt/
- 1
To make (something) perpetual; to make (something) continue for an indefinite time; also, to preserve (something) from extinction or oblivion.
- I am contented to contynue it for my tyme, but to perpetuate it lyeth nat in my power.
- To the ſupportiue perpetuating of your canonized reputation, vvholie this booke haue I deſtined.
- 2
lawTo make (something) perpetual; to make (something) continue for an indefinite time; also, to preserve (something) from extinction or oblivion.
- If vvitneſſes to a diſputable fact are old and infirm, it is very uſual to file a bill to perpetuate the teſtimony of thoſe vvitneſſes, although no ſuit is depending; for, it may be, a man's antagoniſt only vvaits for the death of ſome of them to begin his ſuit. This is moſt frequent vvhen lands are deviſed by vvill avvay from the heir at lavv; and the deviſee, in order to perpetuate the teſtimony of the vvitneſſes to ſuch vvill, exhibits a bill in chancery againſt the heir, […]
- It appears to me that this bill makes out no case for perpetuating testimony. Although it was true that the validity of the will could not, by reason of the lease, be immediately tried with the devises in trust, yet it may be immediately tried by an action for rent against the tenant. Testimony can be perpetuated only where by no means the Plaintiff can presently assert his title to the property.
- 3
To prolong the existence of (something) by repetition; to reinforce.
- He who praiseth obscurity perpetuateth it.
- [T]he major players […] have the most to either gain from perpetuating the lie to morally or ethically acknowledge the wrong of their actions.
perpetuateadj詞源 2/pəˈpɛt͡ʃʊət/
- 1
Perpetual, or made perpetual; continued for an indefinite time.
- The wele suertie and comfort perpetuat of theym ther heires and successours.
- The trees and flowers remain / By Nature's care perpetuate and self-sown.
資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。