英文字典中文字典51ZiDian.com

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Perpetual \Per*pet"u*al\, a. [OE. perpetuel, F. perp['e]tuel,
fr. L. perpetualis, fr. perpetuus continuing throughout,
continuous, fr. perpes, -etis, lasting throughout.]
Neverceasing; continuing forever or for an unlimited time;
unfailing; everlasting; continuous.
[1913 Webster]

Unto the kingdom of perpetual night. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

Perpetual feast of nectared sweets. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]

{Circle of perpetual apparition}, or {Circle of perpetual
occultation}. See under {Circle}.

{Perpetual calendar}, a calendar so devised that it may be
adjusted for any month or year.

{Perpetual curacy} (Ch. of Eng.), a curacy in which all the
tithes are appropriated, and no vicarage is endowed.
--Blackstone.

{Perpetual motion}. See under {Motion}.

{Perpetual screw}. See {Endless screw}, under {Screw}.
[1913 Webster]

Syn: Continual; unceasing; endless; everlasting; incessant;
constant; eternal. See {Constant}.
[1913 Webster]


Tax \Tax\, n. [F. taxe, fr. taxer to tax, L. taxare to touch,
sharply, to feel, handle, to censure, value, estimate, fr.
tangere, tactum, to touch. See {Tangent}, and cf. {Task},
{Taste}.]
1. A charge, especially a pecuniary burden which is imposed
by authority. Specifically:
[1913 Webster]
(a) A charge or burden laid upon persons or property for
the support of a government.
[1913 Webster]

A farmer of taxes is, of all creditors,
proverbially the most rapacious. --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
(b) Especially, the sum laid upon specific things, as upon
polls, lands, houses, income, etc.; as, a land tax; a
window tax; a tax on carriages, and the like.

Note: Taxes are {annual} or {perpetual}, {direct} or
{indirect}, etc.
[1913 Webster]
(c) A sum imposed or levied upon the members of a society
to defray its expenses.
[1913 Webster]

2. A task exacted from one who is under control; a
contribution or service, the rendering of which is imposed
upon a subject.
[1913 Webster]

3. A disagreeable or burdensome duty or charge; as, a heavy
tax on time or health.
[1913 Webster]

4. Charge; censure. [Obs.] --Clarendon.
[1913 Webster]

5. A lesson to be learned; a task. [Obs.] --Johnson.
[1913 Webster]

{Tax cart}, a spring cart subject to a low tax. [Eng.]
[1913 Webster]

Syn: Impost; tribute; contribution; duty; toll; rate;
assessment; exaction; custom; demand.
[1913 Webster]
[1913 Webster]