1

Assuming that time zero was the big bang and "time" before that did not exist, what is the term to describe something that has existed since "time" began and will continue till "time" ends. I understand that realistically we might never use this term. (Big bang is just a reference, I just wanted to refer to the "beginning of time")

We have terms like omnipresent and omniscient, for place and knowledge/information, but what about time?

Do eternal or sempiternal correctly define it? Is there a word like omnichronos?

z7sg Ѫ
  • 13,085
  • 19
  • 63
  • 102
abhinav
  • 409
  • Did you find the dictionary definition of eternal unclear? – Tim Lymington Jan 06 '12 at 13:02
  • Most of the definitions refer to the word "forever", which has the definition "For all future time; for always". I guess, eternal could fit this meaning. Like I mentioned in the last sentence. I just need confirmation. – abhinav Jan 06 '12 at 13:09
  • 1
    Did you find a word like omichronos in any dictionary? Also, if you look up eternal you'll see it means "without beginning or end," so it is not limited to the future. – Robusto Jan 06 '12 at 13:27
  • Would it be omnichronos or omnichronic? – FrustratedWithFormsDesigner Jan 06 '12 at 14:47
  • 1
    It would be spelled omnichronous … if it existed. – MetaEd Jan 06 '12 at 15:01
  • There is room for doubt that eternal fits because it's sometimes defined as without end, which does not necessarily mean without end or beginning. I think a good answer would demonstrate this particular usage of eternal. – z7sg Ѫ Jan 06 '12 at 18:26
  • @z7sgѪ "Eternal" has always conveye not only endless future but also endless past. It derives from Latin aeviternus, "of great age".¹ – MetaEd Jan 06 '12 at 20:10
  • 2
    I'm voting to reopen. So far as I'm concerned the jury is still out on the most suitable term, and ELU is a relatively sophisticated adjudicator on such matters. Frankly, I think it's ludicrous to close the question on the grounds OP should have just Googled it. And what? Found "Eternal" really is the "right" word? More likely "Grammar Nazis discovered hiding in ELU" – FumbleFingers Jan 06 '12 at 22:35
  • 1
    Is this existential question any the inferior to "What's the correct term for the word potato chips?"? [http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/53873/whats-the-correct-term-for-the-word-potato-chips] I would like this to reopen, as well. – Kris Jan 10 '12 at 10:08

3 Answers3

6

"Eternal" means not only endless future but also endless past. It derives from Latin aeviternus, "of great age".¹ It is commonly used in this sense. For example, Google [ eternal father ], and you will find that the phrase is often used to mean a supernatural being said to exist for all time. (The Navy and the Mormons are particularly fond of it.)

The other word which pretty well fills the bill for both the past and the future is "ageless".

MetaEd
  • 28,488
  • 1
    From the dictionary on my computer ... Everlasting refers to something that will continue to exist once it is created, while eternal implies that it has always existed and will continue to exist in the future. – GEdgar Jan 06 '12 at 16:24
3

I think words like everlasting and eternal are firmly rooted in the religious framework that primarily associates these qualities with God.

Since OP defines the "beginning of time" as the Big Bang, rather than part of the biblical act of creation, I think a "secular/scientific" term might be more appropriate...

atemporal - independent of or unaffected by time, timeless.

I would say anything which exists independent of time must de facto exist throughout all time.

MetaEd
  • 28,488
FumbleFingers
  • 140,184
  • 45
  • 294
  • 517
2

Though in Medieval theology, "eternal" was understood to mean "existing outside of time", rather than "existing since the beginning of time". It's an important distinction in theological and philosophical discussions.

Jay
  • 36,223
  • That's an interesting point. Is there an online source for this? – MetaEd Jan 06 '12 at 20:03
  • @MetaEd: Several dictionaries I checked list this as one of the definitions. For example, see http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/eternal, definition #4. Here's a discussion of the concept: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternity. And here: http://www.beliefnet.com/News/Science-Religion/2004/07/Before-Abraham-Was-I-Am-A-God-Outside-Of-Time.aspx – Jay Jan 10 '12 at 16:44