eeuwige

Eeuwige is a Dutch adjective meaning eternal or everlasting: something that lasts without end or for an indefinitely long time. It is commonly used before nouns to express permanence, for example eeuwige liefde (eternal love), eeuwige roem (eternal fame) and eeuwige trouw (eternal fidelity). In religious language the term also appears as a substantive phrase, notably when referring to God as de Eeuwige.

Etymology: The form derives from the noun eeuw meaning a long time or age, with the suffix -ig creating adjectives. The word traces back to Old Dutch and further to the Germanic roots for long time; it is related to the concept of eternity in many European languages.

Usage and nuance: Eeuwige emphasizes permanence and transcendence rather than mere durability. In non-religious contexts it can express idealized or formal scope, while in religious texts it often carries the sense of timeless, divine duration: "the Eternal" (de Eeuwige) is a common epithet for God in Dutch translations and hymnody.

Related terms include eeuwigheid (eternity), eeuwig bestaan (eternal existence), and related phrases that convey permanence beyond ordinary life. The word remains widely used in poetry, philosophy, and everyday language to denote something without a foreseeable end.