▪ I. eterne, a. Obs. exc. arch. (poet.)
(iːˈtɜːn)
Also 6–9 etern, 7–9 ætern(e.
[a. OF. eterne, ad. L. ætern-us, for æviternus, f. ævum age.]
1. = eternal a.
| c 1366 Chaucer A.B.C. 56 To stink eterne he wol my gost exyle. c 1374 ― Boeth. v. vi. 171 Þe comune iugement of alle creatures resonables than is þis þat god is eterne. 1413 Lydg. Pilgr. Sowle v. ix. (1483) 100 By the kynge eterne the raunson fully shalle be payd for man. 1423 Jas. I. Kingis Q. cvii, The effectis of my bemes schene Has thaire aspectis by ordynance eterne. c 1470 Harding Chron. cxv. xi, Saynt Edmonde..dyed, and made his fare To blysse eterne. 1534 Ld. Berners Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546) K vij b, Other thynges I fynd in the saied annales worthie of etern memorie. 1605 Shakes. Macb. iii. ii. 38 Banquo and his Fleans liues. But in them, Natures Coppie's not eterne. 1647 H. More Song of Soul i. ii. lii, Straight he to higher pearch, like bird in cage, Did skip, and sang of etern Destiny. 1683 E. Hooker Pref. Pordage's Mystic Div. 101 An ætern Beeing of Beeings. 1773 J. Ross Fratricide (MS.) vi. 281 On him shall fall Retaliation sevenfold and eterne. 1820 Keats Hyperion i. 117 Open thine eyes eterne. 1856 Mrs. Browning Aur. Leigh iii. 754 An individualism of the Infinite, Eterne, intense, profuse. 1877 M. Arnold Balder Dead 89 The prophetesses, who by rite eterne On Frea's hearth feed high the sacred fire. |
2. absol. † a. In phrase fro eterne (= L. ab æterno), from eternity (obs.). b. the eterne: that which is eternal. c. the Eterne: the Eternal, God.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. v. ii. 153 Þe deuyne purueaunce..þat alle þinges byholdeþ and seeþ fro eterne. 14.. Circumcis. in Tundale's Vis. (1843) 91 The name of names sacryd from eterne. 1613 W. Browne Brit. Past. i. iv, O thou Eterne! by whom all beings move. 1839–48 Bailey Festus Proem (ed. 3) p. vi, And in the vast conditions of the eterne The possible, the probable. |
† 3. quasi-adv. Obs.
| c 1590 Howers Blessed Virg. 97, I verily think and beleeve surely, That my Redeemer is eterne on live. |
▪ II. † eˈterne, v. Obs. rare.
[f. eterne a.]
trans. To make eternal; to eternize.
| 1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. ii. ii. Babilon, Whose happy Labours haue your laudes eterned. 1606 Ibid. ii. iv. i. Trophies, O Verse right-worthy to bee ay eterned! ― Wks. (1621) 1118 Your name already is eterned In Memory's fair Temple. |