perpetuum mobile

From Latin perpetuum (neutral inflection of perpetuus “perpetual”) + Latin mōbile (neutrum of mōbilis “mobile, moving”), used together as a noun, thus literally meaning “perpetual mover”. Although often said to literally mean “perpetual motion”, the latter in Latin is mōtus perpetuus. A perpetuum mobile is a device that exhibits perpetual motion.

IPA^(key): /pəːˌpɛtjʊəm ˈməʊbɪleɪ/, /pəːˌpɛtjʊəm ˈməʊbɪli/

perpetuum mobile

1. A perpetual motion machine.
2. (musicology) Pieces of music, or parts of pieces, characterised by a continuous steady stream of notes, usually at a rapid tempo.
3. (musicology) Whole pieces, or large parts of pieces, which are to be played repeatedly, often an indefinite number of times.

perpetuum mobile n

1. perpetual motion machine

perpetuum mobile

1. perpetual motion machine
   • 2006, Manual til dansk samtidskunst, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN:

     Samtidig fanger værket to flygtige størrelser som vind og lys, der produceres med et ensartet, genkommende luftpres som en perpetuum mobile, en evighedsmaskine, drevet frem af elektriciteten.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2011, Jonas Bruun, Drivjagt, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN:

     Idealet var umuligt og derfor ideelt. Jeg ville forsøge at skabe en perpetuum mobile. En evighedsmaskine af organisk væv.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2013, Kjell Ola Dahl, Kvinden i plastic, Modtryk, →ISBN:

     »Det nærmeste menneskeheden er kommet på en perpetuum mobile, Frølich. Et ur, som ligner et almindeligt kaminur, men som er noget heltandet.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2017, Ole Thyssen, Wilhelm Reich: 1927-1939: Mellem Freud og Marx, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN:

     ... noget i retning af en perpetuum mobile, hvor forbrugt energi stadig er til rådighed.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1996, Lars Handesten, Alligevel så elsker vi byen: tolv kapitler af Københavns litteraturhistorie, →ISBN:

     Den ligner en perpetuum mobile, en evighedsmaskine, ...

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2008, Niels Lund, Stålbandagen: roman, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN, page 84:

     ... men det forhindrede ham ikke i at opfinde flere perpetuum mobiler, der kørte ved hjælp af magneter.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. (figuratively) something or someone in constant activity
   • 2006, Søren Schou, Dansk litteraturs historie: 1920-1960, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN, page 574:

     Frem til slutningen, hvor brudeparret siger ja til at blive begravet i hinanden, er bogen en perpetuum mobile til frembringelse af sorte og groteske stemninger.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2015, Anne Holt, Blind gudinde, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN:

     Fængselspsykiatrien var en perpetuum mobile, frem og tilbage, frem og tilbage.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

• evighedsmaskine

From Latin perpetuum (neutral inflection of perpetuus 'perpetual') + Latin mobile (neutrum of mobilis 'mobile, moving', used as a noun).

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perpetuum mobile n (plural perpetuum mobiles, diminutive pepetuum mobileetje n)

1. A perpetual motion machine (hypothetical contraption capable of remaining in perpetual motion without needing any additional energy ever)
2. (figuratively) Something impossible, a figment of one's imagination

Unadapted borrowing from Latin perpetuum mōbile.

• IPA^(key): /pɛrˈpɛ.tu.um ˈmɔ.bi.lɛ/

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• Rhymes: -ilɛ

perpetuum mobile n (indeclinable)

1. (physics) perpetual motion machine (hypothetical contraption capable of remaining in perpetual motion without needing any additional energy ever)
2. (music) perpetuum mobile (whole pieces, or large parts of pieces, which are to be played repeatedly, often an indefinite number of times)

• perpetuum mobile in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• perpetuum mobile in Polish dictionaries at PWN

perpetuum mobile n (plural perpetuum mobile)

1. perpetual motion machine