Law. an interest under which property is less than completely alienable for longer than the law allows.
Origin
1375-1425;late Middle Englishperpetuite < Latinperpetuitās. See perpetual, -ity
Related forms
nonperpetuity, noun, plural nonperpetuities.
British Dictionary definitions for in perpetuity
perpetuity
/ˌpɜːpɪˈtjuːɪtɪ/
noun (pl) -ties
1.
eternity
2.
the state or quality of being perpetual
3.
(property law) a limitation preventing the absolute disposal of an estate for longer than the period allowed by law
4.
an annuity with no maturity date and payable indefinitely
5.
in perpetuity, for ever
Word Origin
C15: from Old French perpetuite, from Latin perpetuitās continuity; see perpetual
Word Origin and History for in perpetuity
perpetuity
n.
late 14c., from Old French perpetuité "permanence, duration" (13c., Modern French perpétuité) and directly from Latin perpetuitatem (nominative perpetuitas) "uninterrupted duration, continuity, continuous succession," from perpetuus (see perpetual).
Idioms and Phrases with in perpetuity
in perpetuity
For all time, forever, as in This land was given to the state in perpetuity. [ First half of 1400s ]