Term for immortality that only prevents death from old age
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Is there a term for immortality that only prevents death from old age? For example, the elves from The Lord of the Rings are "immortal", but only to the effects of dying from age. They can still be killed from wounds. So they are technically not immortal. In fact, the use of the term "immortal" permeates many facets of Science Fiction & Fantasy lore in a similar context (Justice League and Dungeons & Dragons come to mind).
Is there a more fitting term for this kind of longevity, perhaps used by other Sci-Fi/Fantasy works of which I am not aware? Specifically, I am looking for a term either from actual science or Sci-Fi/Fantasy that dictates the state of growing to maturity, and then no longer suffering from aging or be capable of dying to the effects of aging while still maintaining vulnerability to wounds.
terminology immortality
asked Feb 15 at 21:04
SeeDerekEngineerSeeDerekEngineer
33237
|
show 8 more comments
Is there a term for immortality that only prevents death from old age? For example, the elves from The Lord of the Rings are "immortal", but only to the effects of dying from age. They can still be killed from wounds. So they are technically not immortal. In fact, the use of the term "immortal" permeates many facets of Science Fiction & Fantasy lore in a similar context (Justice League and Dungeons & Dragons come to mind).
Is there a more fitting term for this kind of longevity, perhaps used by other Sci-Fi/Fantasy works of which I am not aware? Specifically, I am looking for a term either from actual science or Sci-Fi/Fantasy that dictates the state of growing to maturity, and then no longer suffering from aging or be capable of dying to the effects of aging while still maintaining vulnerability to wounds.
terminology immortality
asked Feb 15 at 21:04
SeeDerekEngineerSeeDerekEngineer
33237
5
Although this looks like it may be a better fit on English Language/English Learners (which one has single word requests?), immortality is very much a SF thing and we have such "terms" questions. As per the "unclear" part, it appears LOTR is only given as an example, although a Tolkien-word for it might be a nice addition to an answer. TLDR: voted to leave open.
– Jenayah
Feb 15 at 21:42
6
To quote Wikipedia, Immortal beings and species abound in fiction, especially fantasy fiction, and the meaning of "immortal" tends to vary.
– gowenfawr
Feb 15 at 21:52
1
@Valorum truth be told, I (myself, not speaking for anyone else nor judging) wouldn't take any enjoyment in answering in such a way, but I still do think this is somewhat on-topic for the site, although not the "best question evah"
– Jenayah
Feb 15 at 22:50
3
@Jenayah - The question "What word in LOTR describes the Elves immortality" would be fine on the site. The question "Is there a word in the English language that describes non-aging" would also be fine, but not here.
– Valorum
Feb 15 at 23:05
3
Usually that's precisely what "immortality" means. Not being killable by wounds would be "invincibility". "I'm immortal, not invincible". I would have made this an answer if the question wasn't protected.
– Kapten-N
Feb 18 at 13:09
|
show 8 more comments
Is there a term for immortality that only prevents death from old age? For example, the elves from The Lord of the Rings are "immortal", but only to the effects of dying from age. They can still be killed from wounds. So they are technically not immortal. In fact, the use of the term "immortal" permeates many facets of Science Fiction & Fantasy lore in a similar context (Justice League and Dungeons & Dragons come to mind).
Is there a more fitting term for this kind of longevity, perhaps used by other Sci-Fi/Fantasy works of which I am not aware? Specifically, I am looking for a term either from actual science or Sci-Fi/Fantasy that dictates the state of growing to maturity, and then no longer suffering from aging or be capable of dying to the effects of aging while still maintaining vulnerability to wounds.
terminology immortality
asked Feb 15 at 21:04
SeeDerekEngineerSeeDerekEngineer
33237
Is there a term for immortality that only prevents death from old age? For example, the elves from The Lord of the Rings are "immortal", but only to the effects of dying from age. They can still be killed from wounds. So they are technically not immortal. In fact, the use of the term "immortal" permeates many facets of Science Fiction & Fantasy lore in a similar context (Justice League and Dungeons & Dragons come to mind).
Is there a more fitting term for this kind of longevity, perhaps used by other Sci-Fi/Fantasy works of which I am not aware? Specifically, I am looking for a term either from actual science or Sci-Fi/Fantasy that dictates the state of growing to maturity, and then no longer suffering from aging or be capable of dying to the effects of aging while still maintaining vulnerability to wounds.
terminology immortality
terminology immortality
asked Feb 15 at 21:04
SeeDerekEngineerSeeDerekEngineer
33237
asked Feb 15 at 21:04
SeeDerekEngineerSeeDerekEngineer
33237
edited Feb 21 at 15:49
SeeDerekEngineer
asked Feb 15 at 21:04
SeeDerekEngineerSeeDerekEngineer
33237
asked Feb 15 at 21:04
SeeDerekEngineerSeeDerekEngineer
33237
asked Feb 15 at 21:04
SeeDerekEngineerSeeDerekEngineer
33237
33237
5
Although this looks like it may be a better fit on English Language/English Learners (which one has single word requests?), immortality is very much a SF thing and we have such "terms" questions. As per the "unclear" part, it appears LOTR is only given as an example, although a Tolkien-word for it might be a nice addition to an answer. TLDR: voted to leave open.
– Jenayah
Feb 15 at 21:42
6
To quote Wikipedia, Immortal beings and species abound in fiction, especially fantasy fiction, and the meaning of "immortal" tends to vary.
– gowenfawr
Feb 15 at 21:52
1
@Valorum truth be told, I (myself, not speaking for anyone else nor judging) wouldn't take any enjoyment in answering in such a way, but I still do think this is somewhat on-topic for the site, although not the "best question evah"
– Jenayah
Feb 15 at 22:50
3
@Jenayah - The question "What word in LOTR describes the Elves immortality" would be fine on the site. The question "Is there a word in the English language that describes non-aging" would also be fine, but not here.
– Valorum
Feb 15 at 23:05
3
Usually that's precisely what "immortality" means. Not being killable by wounds would be "invincibility". "I'm immortal, not invincible". I would have made this an answer if the question wasn't protected.
– Kapten-N
Feb 18 at 13:09
|
show 8 more comments
5
Although this looks like it may be a better fit on English Language/English Learners (which one has single word requests?), immortality is very much a SF thing and we have such "terms" questions. As per the "unclear" part, it appears LOTR is only given as an example, although a Tolkien-word for it might be a nice addition to an answer. TLDR: voted to leave open.
– Jenayah
Feb 15 at 21:42
6
To quote Wikipedia, Immortal beings and species abound in fiction, especially fantasy fiction, and the meaning of "immortal" tends to vary.
– gowenfawr
Feb 15 at 21:52
1
@Valorum truth be told, I (myself, not speaking for anyone else nor judging) wouldn't take any enjoyment in answering in such a way, but I still do think this is somewhat on-topic for the site, although not the "best question evah"
– Jenayah
Feb 15 at 22:50
3
@Jenayah - The question "What word in LOTR describes the Elves immortality" would be fine on the site. The question "Is there a word in the English language that describes non-aging" would also be fine, but not here.
– Valorum
Feb 15 at 23:05
3
Usually that's precisely what "immortality" means. Not being killable by wounds would be "invincibility". "I'm immortal, not invincible". I would have made this an answer if the question wasn't protected.
– Kapten-N
Feb 18 at 13:09
5
5
Although this looks like it may be a better fit on English Language/English Learners (which one has single word requests?), immortality is very much a SF thing and we have such "terms" questions. As per the "unclear" part, it appears LOTR is only given as an example, although a Tolkien-word for it might be a nice addition to an answer. TLDR: voted to leave open.
– Jenayah
Feb 15 at 21:42
Although this looks like it may be a better fit on English Language/English Learners (which one has single word requests?), immortality is very much a SF thing and we have such "terms" questions. As per the "unclear" part, it appears LOTR is only given as an example, although a Tolkien-word for it might be a nice addition to an answer. TLDR: voted to leave open.
– Jenayah
Feb 15 at 21:42
6
6
To quote Wikipedia, Immortal beings and species abound in fiction, especially fantasy fiction, and the meaning of "immortal" tends to vary.
– gowenfawr
Feb 15 at 21:52
To quote Wikipedia, Immortal beings and species abound in fiction, especially fantasy fiction, and the meaning of "immortal" tends to vary.
– gowenfawr
Feb 15 at 21:52
1
1
@Valorum truth be told, I (myself, not speaking for anyone else nor judging) wouldn't take any enjoyment in answering in such a way, but I still do think this is somewhat on-topic for the site, although not the "best question evah"
– Jenayah
Feb 15 at 22:50
@Valorum truth be told, I (myself, not speaking for anyone else nor judging) wouldn't take any enjoyment in answering in such a way, but I still do think this is somewhat on-topic for the site, although not the "best question evah"
– Jenayah
Feb 15 at 22:50
3
3
@Jenayah - The question "What word in LOTR describes the Elves immortality" would be fine on the site. The question "Is there a word in the English language that describes non-aging" would also be fine, but not here.
– Valorum
Feb 15 at 23:05
@Jenayah - The question "What word in LOTR describes the Elves immortality" would be fine on the site. The question "Is there a word in the English language that describes non-aging" would also be fine, but not here.
– Valorum
Feb 15 at 23:05
3
3
Usually that's precisely what "immortality" means. Not being killable by wounds would be "invincibility". "I'm immortal, not invincible". I would have made this an answer if the question wasn't protected.
– Kapten-N
Feb 18 at 13:09
Usually that's precisely what "immortality" means. Not being killable by wounds would be "invincibility". "I'm immortal, not invincible". I would have made this an answer if the question wasn't protected.
– Kapten-N
Feb 18 at 13:09
|
show 8 more comments
9 Answers
9
active
oldest
votes
Negligible senescence largely fits the bill.
Negligible senescence is a term coined by biogerontologist Caleb Finch to denote organisms that do not exhibit evidence of senescence (biological aging), such as measurable reductions in their reproductive capability, measurable functional decline, or rising death rates with age.
Biological immortality is the more extreme version.
Biological immortality (sometimes referred to bio-indefinite mortality) is a state in which the rate of mortality from senescence is stable or decreasing, thus decoupling it from chronological age. Various unicellular and multicellular species, including some vertebrates, achieve this state either throughout their existence or after living long enough. A biologically immortal living being can still die from means other than senescence, such as through injury or disease.
answered Feb 15 at 22:08
FuzzyBootsFuzzyBoots
96.8k12297463
7
Came here to post this. +1 for science facts!
– ApproachingDarknessFish
Feb 16 at 8:05
1
This seems to be the most correct answer: a term which means exactly what the OP is looking for (not something vague/ambiguous like "ageless" or "eternal") and which isn't restricted to a single work or subgenre of SFF.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:59
1
"The Postmortal" by Drew Magary postulated a formula that would, when taken, basically freeze you at your current age. You could, however, still be killed by violence or even disease.
– Emsley Wyatt
Feb 16 at 22:45
2
Because we all watched the movies about Connor MacLeod the negligibly senescencent, and we read about Elrond the biologically immortal, and the ancient Greeks were all warm and fuzzy for Zeus, the negligibly senescencent god of Olympus...
– motoDrizzt
Feb 19 at 9:32
@motoDrizzt: I see your point. And my answer may be on the side of "providing a scientific explanation". :)
– FuzzyBoots
Feb 20 at 17:37
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show 5 more comments
"ageless" would work as it means: something (or someone) that does not look or appear to grow older
Elrond's face is described as ageless (lotr, many meetings)
answered Feb 15 at 22:34
Garret GangGarret Gang
83848
14
"Ageless" typically describes appearance and can still apply to beings that do age. I don't think that's a good fit.
– isanae
Feb 16 at 4:23
5
-1 for being a poor answer to the question. "Ageless" doesn't (usually) literally mean someone who can't age. Someone's face may appear ageless (they're not showing the effects of their age), but that's not a sci-fi/fantasy concept. Immortality is.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:15
4
@Randal'Thor - While being ageless (or more commonly the lesser reference of "appearing ageless") can be used in non- scifi/fantasy contexts, when used in a scifi/fantasy context it does tend to mean what Garret Gang describes - that one exists without (dramatic) aging, without dying of natural causes, but one is still able to be killed by violence, etc. And it is usually pretty clear in a given story which context the term is used in, scifi/fantasy or not. This was actually the answer I came up with when I read the question.
– Megha
Feb 17 at 3:28
Ageless is an adjective. The question was asking about a term for immortality/longevity, indicating a noun. Even before I read this answer, the first word that popped into my head was "agelessness".
– TOOGAM
Feb 18 at 0:07
1
Whoie I agree with Rand AL Thor that ageless when used to describe someone outside of science fiction/fantasy merely means they do not look old. I feel that inside of the realm of science fi/fantasy the term generally refers to a race, or person who does not age. And I feel this use of the term was inspired by Tolkien work, though upon rereading the chapter, I think he used it to mean that elronds face was neither young nor old, giving no indication to his actual age.
– Garret Gang
Feb 24 at 0:09
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show 2 more comments
Undying is a term that refers specifically to a state of never being in a process of dying (such as Tolkien's Undying Lands), and applies mainly to life, rather than ideas, art, or appearance. It does not necessarily mean being immune to being killed or destroyed, but rather to not being subject to life's usual condition of growing progressively closer to death.
It also does not necessarily mean being immune to some form of change due to aging (for the better or for the worse); it does, however, mean being immune to death from aging.
answered Feb 16 at 1:53
Misha RMisha R
6,27043267
7
Note: Undying may be confused with, or used interchangeably with, undead, which typically refers to reanimated dead (e.g. zombies).
– NotThatGuy
Feb 16 at 12:41
6
@NotThatGuy Maybe, although I doubt it. Could perhaps be true for very young readers. But I have never seen "undying" used that way or confused with "undead." Additionally, "undead" is such a well-established term that a deviation from it would be more likely to emphasize that you don't mean "undead."
– Misha R
Feb 16 at 17:44
add a comment |
Turning to roleplaying games, GURPS uses "Unkillable" for "immune to death by violence" and "Unaging" for "never growing older once mature".
answered Feb 15 at 21:16
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3,0311128
I always ponder over what those "immune to death by violence" would do at the end of the universe if they cannot die?
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 8:21
In GURPS? If there was no envionment left that could support their life they would still exist but in a state of perpetual unconsciousness unless some new universe came along to provide a livable condition for them. Unless of course they also had metabolic immunity and didn't need a habitable environment.
– David Johnston
Feb 19 at 9:16
– so then they are merely spirits, putting on material bodies only when possible, i.e. when an universe is temporarily available.
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 9:22
add a comment |
Eternal youth. From Wikipedia:
Eternal youth is the concept of human physical immortality free of ageing. The youth referred to is usually meant to be in contrast to the depredations of aging, rather than a specific age of the human lifespan. Achieving eternal youth so far remains beyond the capabilities of scientific technology. However, much research is being conducted in the sciences of genetics which may allow manipulation of the aging process in the future.[citation needed] Eternal youth is common in mythology, and is a popular theme in fiction.
answered Feb 16 at 5:48
ashes2ashesashes2ashes
1572
7
"Eternal youth" implies that the subject, well, stays young. It wouldn't be used to describe someone who keeps on getting older and older, but never dies of it.
– duskwuff
Feb 16 at 6:45
3
"Eternal youth" in the context of fiction is generally used to describe people invincible to death by old age. See the Wikipedia article I linked. Unless you're trying to include some possibility of "you can still physically age, but you won't die from it," eternal youthfulness is how I would describe the example given in the OP, i.e. the elves from LOTR.
– ashes2ashes
Feb 16 at 8:02
4
@duskwuff I'd argue that the common scifi/fantasy trope usually refers to effects that essentially stop aging at the adult stage, having the equivalent of a prime-age human body for millenia. The term should reflect "that the subject, well, stays young" as opposed to someone who keeps visibly aging, becoming equivalent to a 80 year old human with the accumulated bodily changes of aging, then to a 100 year old human with even more such changes, and getting older and older but never dying from it. That would be possible in some story, but that's not the common scenario we're talking about.
– Peteris
Feb 17 at 2:14
@duskwuff : The question explicitly stated "growing to maturity, and then no longer suffering from aging", so this answer is valid. It also shows that the OP was not meaning a struldbrugg-like immortality.
– vsz
Feb 20 at 5:36
add a comment |
The term “immorbidity” is used in some SF, for example Wil McCarthy’s Queendom of Sol series.
answered Feb 16 at 21:02
Mike ScottMike Scott
50.7k4160205
I learned something today! That's very useful. ... ok, not very useful, but it could be if magic was real. Or at some point in the future when I'm dead but technology can achieve effective immorbidity.
– einpoklum
Feb 18 at 0:13
add a comment |
While this question already has an answer, I'd like to add my two-cents.
From any dictionary definition I've looked at, Immortality means :
The ability to live forever; eternal life.
This definitions fits your criteria :
no longer suffering from aging or be capable of dying to the effects of aging while still maintaining vulnerability to wounds
Since in the definition of Immortality, no mention is made as to any resistance to wounds, illness, or anything else.
Someone who is unable to die from wounds is not immortal, but Invulnerable :
incapable of being wounded, hurt, or damaged.
So while it's true that immortality is commonly used to talk about someone/something that cannot die, or be killed, by definition it only refer to someone/something who cannot die from old age.
answered Feb 19 at 8:12
user3399user3399
52839
As one gets older, the probability of meeting a fatal accident increases asymptotically towards 1. "The ability to live forever" is therefore predicated on being able to survive what would otherwise be fatal accidents.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 10:14
@Sneftel the probability of meeting a fatal accident as one gets older, in and of itself is predicated around the idea of "aging", but anyone being able to live forever would most likely stop to age. Otherwise their body would inevitably stop functionning at some point.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:38
No, it's nothing to do with aging. As your lifespan increases, the likelihood of a low-probability event occuring (like a fatal accident) increases.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 16:53
@Sneftel Okay, but even then, the definition of Immortality itself only says "The ability to live forever; eternal life". It does not imply that you cannot be involved into an accident, that you cannot be killed or anything else. It litterally only says that someone Immortal has "The ability to live forever", it does not mean that they will.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:59
In that case, you might as well say that everyone is immortal, because there's a nonzero chance they might spontaneously mutate into being biologically immortal. They therefore technically have the ability to live forever.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 17:02
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In sci-fi, this is often called "functionally immortal."
answered Feb 16 at 4:21
Feather FeetFeather Feet
451
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
7
Some instances would be nice :) (you can edit them into your answer)
– Jenayah
Feb 16 at 4:28
1
Yes, please include some examples or references for this term. Answers are best when properly sourced or supported. Thanks :-)
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 7:07
add a comment |
Word
Eternal
Comes from Latin aeternus, aevum ‘age’.
answered Feb 15 at 22:38
OniOni
669217
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
3
"Eternal" literally means something that lasts forever. Can you explain how this word is appropriate for a being who doesn't age but can be killed?
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:21
Meaning of word comes from aevum that literally mean age" or"aeon" that applies to old age.
– Oni
Feb 16 at 10:16
2
But this question is about English words, not Latin ones. Regardless of the etymology of the word, "eternal" doesn't necessarily relate specifically to old age.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:46
Yes, it do if you know the meaning of the word.
– Oni
Feb 17 at 22:00
1
No it doesn't. I do know the meaning of the word, in fact I mentioned it in my first comment here.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 18 at 6:02
add a comment |
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9 Answers
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Negligible senescence largely fits the bill.
Negligible senescence is a term coined by biogerontologist Caleb Finch to denote organisms that do not exhibit evidence of senescence (biological aging), such as measurable reductions in their reproductive capability, measurable functional decline, or rising death rates with age.
Biological immortality is the more extreme version.
Biological immortality (sometimes referred to bio-indefinite mortality) is a state in which the rate of mortality from senescence is stable or decreasing, thus decoupling it from chronological age. Various unicellular and multicellular species, including some vertebrates, achieve this state either throughout their existence or after living long enough. A biologically immortal living being can still die from means other than senescence, such as through injury or disease.
answered Feb 15 at 22:08
FuzzyBootsFuzzyBoots
96.8k12297463
7
Came here to post this. +1 for science facts!
– ApproachingDarknessFish
Feb 16 at 8:05
1
This seems to be the most correct answer: a term which means exactly what the OP is looking for (not something vague/ambiguous like "ageless" or "eternal") and which isn't restricted to a single work or subgenre of SFF.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:59
1
"The Postmortal" by Drew Magary postulated a formula that would, when taken, basically freeze you at your current age. You could, however, still be killed by violence or even disease.
– Emsley Wyatt
Feb 16 at 22:45
2
Because we all watched the movies about Connor MacLeod the negligibly senescencent, and we read about Elrond the biologically immortal, and the ancient Greeks were all warm and fuzzy for Zeus, the negligibly senescencent god of Olympus...
– motoDrizzt
Feb 19 at 9:32
@motoDrizzt: I see your point. And my answer may be on the side of "providing a scientific explanation". :)
– FuzzyBoots
Feb 20 at 17:37
|
show 5 more comments
Negligible senescence largely fits the bill.
Negligible senescence is a term coined by biogerontologist Caleb Finch to denote organisms that do not exhibit evidence of senescence (biological aging), such as measurable reductions in their reproductive capability, measurable functional decline, or rising death rates with age.
Biological immortality is the more extreme version.
Biological immortality (sometimes referred to bio-indefinite mortality) is a state in which the rate of mortality from senescence is stable or decreasing, thus decoupling it from chronological age. Various unicellular and multicellular species, including some vertebrates, achieve this state either throughout their existence or after living long enough. A biologically immortal living being can still die from means other than senescence, such as through injury or disease.
answered Feb 15 at 22:08
FuzzyBootsFuzzyBoots
96.8k12297463
7
Came here to post this. +1 for science facts!
– ApproachingDarknessFish
Feb 16 at 8:05
1
This seems to be the most correct answer: a term which means exactly what the OP is looking for (not something vague/ambiguous like "ageless" or "eternal") and which isn't restricted to a single work or subgenre of SFF.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:59
1
"The Postmortal" by Drew Magary postulated a formula that would, when taken, basically freeze you at your current age. You could, however, still be killed by violence or even disease.
– Emsley Wyatt
Feb 16 at 22:45
2
Because we all watched the movies about Connor MacLeod the negligibly senescencent, and we read about Elrond the biologically immortal, and the ancient Greeks were all warm and fuzzy for Zeus, the negligibly senescencent god of Olympus...
– motoDrizzt
Feb 19 at 9:32
@motoDrizzt: I see your point. And my answer may be on the side of "providing a scientific explanation". :)
– FuzzyBoots
Feb 20 at 17:37
|
show 5 more comments
Negligible senescence largely fits the bill.
Negligible senescence is a term coined by biogerontologist Caleb Finch to denote organisms that do not exhibit evidence of senescence (biological aging), such as measurable reductions in their reproductive capability, measurable functional decline, or rising death rates with age.
Biological immortality is the more extreme version.
Biological immortality (sometimes referred to bio-indefinite mortality) is a state in which the rate of mortality from senescence is stable or decreasing, thus decoupling it from chronological age. Various unicellular and multicellular species, including some vertebrates, achieve this state either throughout their existence or after living long enough. A biologically immortal living being can still die from means other than senescence, such as through injury or disease.
answered Feb 15 at 22:08
FuzzyBootsFuzzyBoots
96.8k12297463
Negligible senescence largely fits the bill.
Negligible senescence is a term coined by biogerontologist Caleb Finch to denote organisms that do not exhibit evidence of senescence (biological aging), such as measurable reductions in their reproductive capability, measurable functional decline, or rising death rates with age.
Biological immortality is the more extreme version.
Biological immortality (sometimes referred to bio-indefinite mortality) is a state in which the rate of mortality from senescence is stable or decreasing, thus decoupling it from chronological age. Various unicellular and multicellular species, including some vertebrates, achieve this state either throughout their existence or after living long enough. A biologically immortal living being can still die from means other than senescence, such as through injury or disease.
answered Feb 15 at 22:08
FuzzyBootsFuzzyBoots
96.8k12297463
answered Feb 15 at 22:08
FuzzyBootsFuzzyBoots
96.8k12297463
answered Feb 15 at 22:08
FuzzyBootsFuzzyBoots
96.8k12297463
answered Feb 15 at 22:08
FuzzyBootsFuzzyBoots
96.8k12297463
96.8k12297463
7
Came here to post this. +1 for science facts!
– ApproachingDarknessFish
Feb 16 at 8:05
1
This seems to be the most correct answer: a term which means exactly what the OP is looking for (not something vague/ambiguous like "ageless" or "eternal") and which isn't restricted to a single work or subgenre of SFF.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:59
1
"The Postmortal" by Drew Magary postulated a formula that would, when taken, basically freeze you at your current age. You could, however, still be killed by violence or even disease.
– Emsley Wyatt
Feb 16 at 22:45
2
Because we all watched the movies about Connor MacLeod the negligibly senescencent, and we read about Elrond the biologically immortal, and the ancient Greeks were all warm and fuzzy for Zeus, the negligibly senescencent god of Olympus...
– motoDrizzt
Feb 19 at 9:32
@motoDrizzt: I see your point. And my answer may be on the side of "providing a scientific explanation". :)
– FuzzyBoots
Feb 20 at 17:37
|
show 5 more comments
7
Came here to post this. +1 for science facts!
– ApproachingDarknessFish
Feb 16 at 8:05
1
This seems to be the most correct answer: a term which means exactly what the OP is looking for (not something vague/ambiguous like "ageless" or "eternal") and which isn't restricted to a single work or subgenre of SFF.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:59
1
"The Postmortal" by Drew Magary postulated a formula that would, when taken, basically freeze you at your current age. You could, however, still be killed by violence or even disease.
– Emsley Wyatt
Feb 16 at 22:45
2
Because we all watched the movies about Connor MacLeod the negligibly senescencent, and we read about Elrond the biologically immortal, and the ancient Greeks were all warm and fuzzy for Zeus, the negligibly senescencent god of Olympus...
– motoDrizzt
Feb 19 at 9:32
@motoDrizzt: I see your point. And my answer may be on the side of "providing a scientific explanation". :)
– FuzzyBoots
Feb 20 at 17:37
7
7
Came here to post this. +1 for science facts!
– ApproachingDarknessFish
Feb 16 at 8:05
Came here to post this. +1 for science facts!
– ApproachingDarknessFish
Feb 16 at 8:05
1
1
This seems to be the most correct answer: a term which means exactly what the OP is looking for (not something vague/ambiguous like "ageless" or "eternal") and which isn't restricted to a single work or subgenre of SFF.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:59
This seems to be the most correct answer: a term which means exactly what the OP is looking for (not something vague/ambiguous like "ageless" or "eternal") and which isn't restricted to a single work or subgenre of SFF.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:59
1
1
"The Postmortal" by Drew Magary postulated a formula that would, when taken, basically freeze you at your current age. You could, however, still be killed by violence or even disease.
– Emsley Wyatt
Feb 16 at 22:45
"The Postmortal" by Drew Magary postulated a formula that would, when taken, basically freeze you at your current age. You could, however, still be killed by violence or even disease.
– Emsley Wyatt
Feb 16 at 22:45
2
2
Because we all watched the movies about Connor MacLeod the negligibly senescencent, and we read about Elrond the biologically immortal, and the ancient Greeks were all warm and fuzzy for Zeus, the negligibly senescencent god of Olympus...
– motoDrizzt
Feb 19 at 9:32
Because we all watched the movies about Connor MacLeod the negligibly senescencent, and we read about Elrond the biologically immortal, and the ancient Greeks were all warm and fuzzy for Zeus, the negligibly senescencent god of Olympus...
– motoDrizzt
Feb 19 at 9:32
@motoDrizzt: I see your point. And my answer may be on the side of "providing a scientific explanation". :)
– FuzzyBoots
Feb 20 at 17:37
@motoDrizzt: I see your point. And my answer may be on the side of "providing a scientific explanation". :)
– FuzzyBoots
Feb 20 at 17:37
|
show 5 more comments
"ageless" would work as it means: something (or someone) that does not look or appear to grow older
Elrond's face is described as ageless (lotr, many meetings)
answered Feb 15 at 22:34
Garret GangGarret Gang
83848
14
"Ageless" typically describes appearance and can still apply to beings that do age. I don't think that's a good fit.
– isanae
Feb 16 at 4:23
5
-1 for being a poor answer to the question. "Ageless" doesn't (usually) literally mean someone who can't age. Someone's face may appear ageless (they're not showing the effects of their age), but that's not a sci-fi/fantasy concept. Immortality is.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:15
4
@Randal'Thor - While being ageless (or more commonly the lesser reference of "appearing ageless") can be used in non- scifi/fantasy contexts, when used in a scifi/fantasy context it does tend to mean what Garret Gang describes - that one exists without (dramatic) aging, without dying of natural causes, but one is still able to be killed by violence, etc. And it is usually pretty clear in a given story which context the term is used in, scifi/fantasy or not. This was actually the answer I came up with when I read the question.
– Megha
Feb 17 at 3:28
Ageless is an adjective. The question was asking about a term for immortality/longevity, indicating a noun. Even before I read this answer, the first word that popped into my head was "agelessness".
– TOOGAM
Feb 18 at 0:07
1
Whoie I agree with Rand AL Thor that ageless when used to describe someone outside of science fiction/fantasy merely means they do not look old. I feel that inside of the realm of science fi/fantasy the term generally refers to a race, or person who does not age. And I feel this use of the term was inspired by Tolkien work, though upon rereading the chapter, I think he used it to mean that elronds face was neither young nor old, giving no indication to his actual age.
– Garret Gang
Feb 24 at 0:09
|
show 2 more comments
"ageless" would work as it means: something (or someone) that does not look or appear to grow older
Elrond's face is described as ageless (lotr, many meetings)
answered Feb 15 at 22:34
Garret GangGarret Gang
83848
14
"Ageless" typically describes appearance and can still apply to beings that do age. I don't think that's a good fit.
– isanae
Feb 16 at 4:23
5
-1 for being a poor answer to the question. "Ageless" doesn't (usually) literally mean someone who can't age. Someone's face may appear ageless (they're not showing the effects of their age), but that's not a sci-fi/fantasy concept. Immortality is.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:15
4
@Randal'Thor - While being ageless (or more commonly the lesser reference of "appearing ageless") can be used in non- scifi/fantasy contexts, when used in a scifi/fantasy context it does tend to mean what Garret Gang describes - that one exists without (dramatic) aging, without dying of natural causes, but one is still able to be killed by violence, etc. And it is usually pretty clear in a given story which context the term is used in, scifi/fantasy or not. This was actually the answer I came up with when I read the question.
– Megha
Feb 17 at 3:28
Ageless is an adjective. The question was asking about a term for immortality/longevity, indicating a noun. Even before I read this answer, the first word that popped into my head was "agelessness".
– TOOGAM
Feb 18 at 0:07
1
Whoie I agree with Rand AL Thor that ageless when used to describe someone outside of science fiction/fantasy merely means they do not look old. I feel that inside of the realm of science fi/fantasy the term generally refers to a race, or person who does not age. And I feel this use of the term was inspired by Tolkien work, though upon rereading the chapter, I think he used it to mean that elronds face was neither young nor old, giving no indication to his actual age.
– Garret Gang
Feb 24 at 0:09
|
show 2 more comments
"ageless" would work as it means: something (or someone) that does not look or appear to grow older
Elrond's face is described as ageless (lotr, many meetings)
answered Feb 15 at 22:34
Garret GangGarret Gang
83848
"ageless" would work as it means: something (or someone) that does not look or appear to grow older
Elrond's face is described as ageless (lotr, many meetings)
answered Feb 15 at 22:34
Garret GangGarret Gang
83848
edited Feb 15 at 22:37
answered Feb 15 at 22:34
Garret GangGarret Gang
83848
answered Feb 15 at 22:34
Garret GangGarret Gang
83848
answered Feb 15 at 22:34
Garret GangGarret Gang
83848
83848
14
"Ageless" typically describes appearance and can still apply to beings that do age. I don't think that's a good fit.
– isanae
Feb 16 at 4:23
5
-1 for being a poor answer to the question. "Ageless" doesn't (usually) literally mean someone who can't age. Someone's face may appear ageless (they're not showing the effects of their age), but that's not a sci-fi/fantasy concept. Immortality is.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:15
4
@Randal'Thor - While being ageless (or more commonly the lesser reference of "appearing ageless") can be used in non- scifi/fantasy contexts, when used in a scifi/fantasy context it does tend to mean what Garret Gang describes - that one exists without (dramatic) aging, without dying of natural causes, but one is still able to be killed by violence, etc. And it is usually pretty clear in a given story which context the term is used in, scifi/fantasy or not. This was actually the answer I came up with when I read the question.
– Megha
Feb 17 at 3:28
Ageless is an adjective. The question was asking about a term for immortality/longevity, indicating a noun. Even before I read this answer, the first word that popped into my head was "agelessness".
– TOOGAM
Feb 18 at 0:07
1
Whoie I agree with Rand AL Thor that ageless when used to describe someone outside of science fiction/fantasy merely means they do not look old. I feel that inside of the realm of science fi/fantasy the term generally refers to a race, or person who does not age. And I feel this use of the term was inspired by Tolkien work, though upon rereading the chapter, I think he used it to mean that elronds face was neither young nor old, giving no indication to his actual age.
– Garret Gang
Feb 24 at 0:09
|
show 2 more comments
14
"Ageless" typically describes appearance and can still apply to beings that do age. I don't think that's a good fit.
– isanae
Feb 16 at 4:23
5
-1 for being a poor answer to the question. "Ageless" doesn't (usually) literally mean someone who can't age. Someone's face may appear ageless (they're not showing the effects of their age), but that's not a sci-fi/fantasy concept. Immortality is.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:15
4
@Randal'Thor - While being ageless (or more commonly the lesser reference of "appearing ageless") can be used in non- scifi/fantasy contexts, when used in a scifi/fantasy context it does tend to mean what Garret Gang describes - that one exists without (dramatic) aging, without dying of natural causes, but one is still able to be killed by violence, etc. And it is usually pretty clear in a given story which context the term is used in, scifi/fantasy or not. This was actually the answer I came up with when I read the question.
– Megha
Feb 17 at 3:28
Ageless is an adjective. The question was asking about a term for immortality/longevity, indicating a noun. Even before I read this answer, the first word that popped into my head was "agelessness".
– TOOGAM
Feb 18 at 0:07
1
Whoie I agree with Rand AL Thor that ageless when used to describe someone outside of science fiction/fantasy merely means they do not look old. I feel that inside of the realm of science fi/fantasy the term generally refers to a race, or person who does not age. And I feel this use of the term was inspired by Tolkien work, though upon rereading the chapter, I think he used it to mean that elronds face was neither young nor old, giving no indication to his actual age.
– Garret Gang
Feb 24 at 0:09
14
14
"Ageless" typically describes appearance and can still apply to beings that do age. I don't think that's a good fit.
– isanae
Feb 16 at 4:23
"Ageless" typically describes appearance and can still apply to beings that do age. I don't think that's a good fit.
– isanae
Feb 16 at 4:23
5
5
-1 for being a poor answer to the question. "Ageless" doesn't (usually) literally mean someone who can't age. Someone's face may appear ageless (they're not showing the effects of their age), but that's not a sci-fi/fantasy concept. Immortality is.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:15
-1 for being a poor answer to the question. "Ageless" doesn't (usually) literally mean someone who can't age. Someone's face may appear ageless (they're not showing the effects of their age), but that's not a sci-fi/fantasy concept. Immortality is.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:15
4
4
@Randal'Thor - While being ageless (or more commonly the lesser reference of "appearing ageless") can be used in non- scifi/fantasy contexts, when used in a scifi/fantasy context it does tend to mean what Garret Gang describes - that one exists without (dramatic) aging, without dying of natural causes, but one is still able to be killed by violence, etc. And it is usually pretty clear in a given story which context the term is used in, scifi/fantasy or not. This was actually the answer I came up with when I read the question.
– Megha
Feb 17 at 3:28
@Randal'Thor - While being ageless (or more commonly the lesser reference of "appearing ageless") can be used in non- scifi/fantasy contexts, when used in a scifi/fantasy context it does tend to mean what Garret Gang describes - that one exists without (dramatic) aging, without dying of natural causes, but one is still able to be killed by violence, etc. And it is usually pretty clear in a given story which context the term is used in, scifi/fantasy or not. This was actually the answer I came up with when I read the question.
– Megha
Feb 17 at 3:28
Ageless is an adjective. The question was asking about a term for immortality/longevity, indicating a noun. Even before I read this answer, the first word that popped into my head was "agelessness".
– TOOGAM
Feb 18 at 0:07
Ageless is an adjective. The question was asking about a term for immortality/longevity, indicating a noun. Even before I read this answer, the first word that popped into my head was "agelessness".
– TOOGAM
Feb 18 at 0:07
1
1
Whoie I agree with Rand AL Thor that ageless when used to describe someone outside of science fiction/fantasy merely means they do not look old. I feel that inside of the realm of science fi/fantasy the term generally refers to a race, or person who does not age. And I feel this use of the term was inspired by Tolkien work, though upon rereading the chapter, I think he used it to mean that elronds face was neither young nor old, giving no indication to his actual age.
– Garret Gang
Feb 24 at 0:09
Whoie I agree with Rand AL Thor that ageless when used to describe someone outside of science fiction/fantasy merely means they do not look old. I feel that inside of the realm of science fi/fantasy the term generally refers to a race, or person who does not age. And I feel this use of the term was inspired by Tolkien work, though upon rereading the chapter, I think he used it to mean that elronds face was neither young nor old, giving no indication to his actual age.
– Garret Gang
Feb 24 at 0:09
|
show 2 more comments
Undying is a term that refers specifically to a state of never being in a process of dying (such as Tolkien's Undying Lands), and applies mainly to life, rather than ideas, art, or appearance. It does not necessarily mean being immune to being killed or destroyed, but rather to not being subject to life's usual condition of growing progressively closer to death.
It also does not necessarily mean being immune to some form of change due to aging (for the better or for the worse); it does, however, mean being immune to death from aging.
answered Feb 16 at 1:53
Misha RMisha R
6,27043267
7
Note: Undying may be confused with, or used interchangeably with, undead, which typically refers to reanimated dead (e.g. zombies).
– NotThatGuy
Feb 16 at 12:41
6
@NotThatGuy Maybe, although I doubt it. Could perhaps be true for very young readers. But I have never seen "undying" used that way or confused with "undead." Additionally, "undead" is such a well-established term that a deviation from it would be more likely to emphasize that you don't mean "undead."
– Misha R
Feb 16 at 17:44
add a comment |
Undying is a term that refers specifically to a state of never being in a process of dying (such as Tolkien's Undying Lands), and applies mainly to life, rather than ideas, art, or appearance. It does not necessarily mean being immune to being killed or destroyed, but rather to not being subject to life's usual condition of growing progressively closer to death.
It also does not necessarily mean being immune to some form of change due to aging (for the better or for the worse); it does, however, mean being immune to death from aging.
answered Feb 16 at 1:53
Misha RMisha R
6,27043267
7
Note: Undying may be confused with, or used interchangeably with, undead, which typically refers to reanimated dead (e.g. zombies).
– NotThatGuy
Feb 16 at 12:41
6
@NotThatGuy Maybe, although I doubt it. Could perhaps be true for very young readers. But I have never seen "undying" used that way or confused with "undead." Additionally, "undead" is such a well-established term that a deviation from it would be more likely to emphasize that you don't mean "undead."
– Misha R
Feb 16 at 17:44
add a comment |
Undying is a term that refers specifically to a state of never being in a process of dying (such as Tolkien's Undying Lands), and applies mainly to life, rather than ideas, art, or appearance. It does not necessarily mean being immune to being killed or destroyed, but rather to not being subject to life's usual condition of growing progressively closer to death.
It also does not necessarily mean being immune to some form of change due to aging (for the better or for the worse); it does, however, mean being immune to death from aging.
answered Feb 16 at 1:53
Misha RMisha R
6,27043267
Undying is a term that refers specifically to a state of never being in a process of dying (such as Tolkien's Undying Lands), and applies mainly to life, rather than ideas, art, or appearance. It does not necessarily mean being immune to being killed or destroyed, but rather to not being subject to life's usual condition of growing progressively closer to death.
It also does not necessarily mean being immune to some form of change due to aging (for the better or for the worse); it does, however, mean being immune to death from aging.
answered Feb 16 at 1:53
Misha RMisha R
6,27043267
edited Feb 16 at 2:06
answered Feb 16 at 1:53
Misha RMisha R
6,27043267
answered Feb 16 at 1:53
Misha RMisha R
6,27043267
answered Feb 16 at 1:53
Misha RMisha R
6,27043267
6,27043267
7
Note: Undying may be confused with, or used interchangeably with, undead, which typically refers to reanimated dead (e.g. zombies).
– NotThatGuy
Feb 16 at 12:41
6
@NotThatGuy Maybe, although I doubt it. Could perhaps be true for very young readers. But I have never seen "undying" used that way or confused with "undead." Additionally, "undead" is such a well-established term that a deviation from it would be more likely to emphasize that you don't mean "undead."
– Misha R
Feb 16 at 17:44
add a comment |
7
Note: Undying may be confused with, or used interchangeably with, undead, which typically refers to reanimated dead (e.g. zombies).
– NotThatGuy
Feb 16 at 12:41
6
@NotThatGuy Maybe, although I doubt it. Could perhaps be true for very young readers. But I have never seen "undying" used that way or confused with "undead." Additionally, "undead" is such a well-established term that a deviation from it would be more likely to emphasize that you don't mean "undead."
– Misha R
Feb 16 at 17:44
7
7
Note: Undying may be confused with, or used interchangeably with, undead, which typically refers to reanimated dead (e.g. zombies).
– NotThatGuy
Feb 16 at 12:41
Note: Undying may be confused with, or used interchangeably with, undead, which typically refers to reanimated dead (e.g. zombies).
– NotThatGuy
Feb 16 at 12:41
6
6
@NotThatGuy Maybe, although I doubt it. Could perhaps be true for very young readers. But I have never seen "undying" used that way or confused with "undead." Additionally, "undead" is such a well-established term that a deviation from it would be more likely to emphasize that you don't mean "undead."
– Misha R
Feb 16 at 17:44
@NotThatGuy Maybe, although I doubt it. Could perhaps be true for very young readers. But I have never seen "undying" used that way or confused with "undead." Additionally, "undead" is such a well-established term that a deviation from it would be more likely to emphasize that you don't mean "undead."
– Misha R
Feb 16 at 17:44
add a comment |
Turning to roleplaying games, GURPS uses "Unkillable" for "immune to death by violence" and "Unaging" for "never growing older once mature".
answered Feb 15 at 21:16
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3,0311128
I always ponder over what those "immune to death by violence" would do at the end of the universe if they cannot die?
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 8:21
In GURPS? If there was no envionment left that could support their life they would still exist but in a state of perpetual unconsciousness unless some new universe came along to provide a livable condition for them. Unless of course they also had metabolic immunity and didn't need a habitable environment.
– David Johnston
Feb 19 at 9:16
– so then they are merely spirits, putting on material bodies only when possible, i.e. when an universe is temporarily available.
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 9:22
add a comment |
Turning to roleplaying games, GURPS uses "Unkillable" for "immune to death by violence" and "Unaging" for "never growing older once mature".
answered Feb 15 at 21:16
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3,0311128
I always ponder over what those "immune to death by violence" would do at the end of the universe if they cannot die?
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 8:21
In GURPS? If there was no envionment left that could support their life they would still exist but in a state of perpetual unconsciousness unless some new universe came along to provide a livable condition for them. Unless of course they also had metabolic immunity and didn't need a habitable environment.
– David Johnston
Feb 19 at 9:16
– so then they are merely spirits, putting on material bodies only when possible, i.e. when an universe is temporarily available.
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 9:22
add a comment |
Turning to roleplaying games, GURPS uses "Unkillable" for "immune to death by violence" and "Unaging" for "never growing older once mature".
answered Feb 15 at 21:16
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3,0311128
Turning to roleplaying games, GURPS uses "Unkillable" for "immune to death by violence" and "Unaging" for "never growing older once mature".
answered Feb 15 at 21:16
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3,0311128
answered Feb 15 at 21:16
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3,0311128
answered Feb 15 at 21:16
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3,0311128
answered Feb 15 at 21:16
David JohnstonDavid Johnston
3,0311128
3,0311128
I always ponder over what those "immune to death by violence" would do at the end of the universe if they cannot die?
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 8:21
In GURPS? If there was no envionment left that could support their life they would still exist but in a state of perpetual unconsciousness unless some new universe came along to provide a livable condition for them. Unless of course they also had metabolic immunity and didn't need a habitable environment.
– David Johnston
Feb 19 at 9:16
– so then they are merely spirits, putting on material bodies only when possible, i.e. when an universe is temporarily available.
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 9:22
add a comment |
I always ponder over what those "immune to death by violence" would do at the end of the universe if they cannot die?
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 8:21
In GURPS? If there was no envionment left that could support their life they would still exist but in a state of perpetual unconsciousness unless some new universe came along to provide a livable condition for them. Unless of course they also had metabolic immunity and didn't need a habitable environment.
– David Johnston
Feb 19 at 9:16
– so then they are merely spirits, putting on material bodies only when possible, i.e. when an universe is temporarily available.
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 9:22
I always ponder over what those "immune to death by violence" would do at the end of the universe if they cannot die?
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 8:21
I always ponder over what those "immune to death by violence" would do at the end of the universe if they cannot die?
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 8:21
In GURPS? If there was no envionment left that could support their life they would still exist but in a state of perpetual unconsciousness unless some new universe came along to provide a livable condition for them. Unless of course they also had metabolic immunity and didn't need a habitable environment.
– David Johnston
Feb 19 at 9:16
In GURPS? If there was no envionment left that could support their life they would still exist but in a state of perpetual unconsciousness unless some new universe came along to provide a livable condition for them. Unless of course they also had metabolic immunity and didn't need a habitable environment.
– David Johnston
Feb 19 at 9:16
– so then they are merely spirits, putting on material bodies only when possible, i.e. when an universe is temporarily available.
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 9:22
– so then they are merely spirits, putting on material bodies only when possible, i.e. when an universe is temporarily available.
– miroxlav
Feb 19 at 9:22
add a comment |
Eternal youth. From Wikipedia:
Eternal youth is the concept of human physical immortality free of ageing. The youth referred to is usually meant to be in contrast to the depredations of aging, rather than a specific age of the human lifespan. Achieving eternal youth so far remains beyond the capabilities of scientific technology. However, much research is being conducted in the sciences of genetics which may allow manipulation of the aging process in the future.[citation needed] Eternal youth is common in mythology, and is a popular theme in fiction.
answered Feb 16 at 5:48
ashes2ashesashes2ashes
1572
7
"Eternal youth" implies that the subject, well, stays young. It wouldn't be used to describe someone who keeps on getting older and older, but never dies of it.
– duskwuff
Feb 16 at 6:45
3
"Eternal youth" in the context of fiction is generally used to describe people invincible to death by old age. See the Wikipedia article I linked. Unless you're trying to include some possibility of "you can still physically age, but you won't die from it," eternal youthfulness is how I would describe the example given in the OP, i.e. the elves from LOTR.
– ashes2ashes
Feb 16 at 8:02
4
@duskwuff I'd argue that the common scifi/fantasy trope usually refers to effects that essentially stop aging at the adult stage, having the equivalent of a prime-age human body for millenia. The term should reflect "that the subject, well, stays young" as opposed to someone who keeps visibly aging, becoming equivalent to a 80 year old human with the accumulated bodily changes of aging, then to a 100 year old human with even more such changes, and getting older and older but never dying from it. That would be possible in some story, but that's not the common scenario we're talking about.
– Peteris
Feb 17 at 2:14
@duskwuff : The question explicitly stated "growing to maturity, and then no longer suffering from aging", so this answer is valid. It also shows that the OP was not meaning a struldbrugg-like immortality.
– vsz
Feb 20 at 5:36
add a comment |
Eternal youth. From Wikipedia:
Eternal youth is the concept of human physical immortality free of ageing. The youth referred to is usually meant to be in contrast to the depredations of aging, rather than a specific age of the human lifespan. Achieving eternal youth so far remains beyond the capabilities of scientific technology. However, much research is being conducted in the sciences of genetics which may allow manipulation of the aging process in the future.[citation needed] Eternal youth is common in mythology, and is a popular theme in fiction.
answered Feb 16 at 5:48
ashes2ashesashes2ashes
1572
7
"Eternal youth" implies that the subject, well, stays young. It wouldn't be used to describe someone who keeps on getting older and older, but never dies of it.
– duskwuff
Feb 16 at 6:45
3
"Eternal youth" in the context of fiction is generally used to describe people invincible to death by old age. See the Wikipedia article I linked. Unless you're trying to include some possibility of "you can still physically age, but you won't die from it," eternal youthfulness is how I would describe the example given in the OP, i.e. the elves from LOTR.
– ashes2ashes
Feb 16 at 8:02
4
@duskwuff I'd argue that the common scifi/fantasy trope usually refers to effects that essentially stop aging at the adult stage, having the equivalent of a prime-age human body for millenia. The term should reflect "that the subject, well, stays young" as opposed to someone who keeps visibly aging, becoming equivalent to a 80 year old human with the accumulated bodily changes of aging, then to a 100 year old human with even more such changes, and getting older and older but never dying from it. That would be possible in some story, but that's not the common scenario we're talking about.
– Peteris
Feb 17 at 2:14
@duskwuff : The question explicitly stated "growing to maturity, and then no longer suffering from aging", so this answer is valid. It also shows that the OP was not meaning a struldbrugg-like immortality.
– vsz
Feb 20 at 5:36
add a comment |
Eternal youth. From Wikipedia:
Eternal youth is the concept of human physical immortality free of ageing. The youth referred to is usually meant to be in contrast to the depredations of aging, rather than a specific age of the human lifespan. Achieving eternal youth so far remains beyond the capabilities of scientific technology. However, much research is being conducted in the sciences of genetics which may allow manipulation of the aging process in the future.[citation needed] Eternal youth is common in mythology, and is a popular theme in fiction.
answered Feb 16 at 5:48
ashes2ashesashes2ashes
1572
Eternal youth. From Wikipedia:
Eternal youth is the concept of human physical immortality free of ageing. The youth referred to is usually meant to be in contrast to the depredations of aging, rather than a specific age of the human lifespan. Achieving eternal youth so far remains beyond the capabilities of scientific technology. However, much research is being conducted in the sciences of genetics which may allow manipulation of the aging process in the future.[citation needed] Eternal youth is common in mythology, and is a popular theme in fiction.
answered Feb 16 at 5:48
ashes2ashesashes2ashes
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answered Feb 16 at 5:48
ashes2ashesashes2ashes
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answered Feb 16 at 5:48
ashes2ashesashes2ashes
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answered Feb 16 at 5:48
ashes2ashesashes2ashes
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"Eternal youth" implies that the subject, well, stays young. It wouldn't be used to describe someone who keeps on getting older and older, but never dies of it.
– duskwuff
Feb 16 at 6:45
3
"Eternal youth" in the context of fiction is generally used to describe people invincible to death by old age. See the Wikipedia article I linked. Unless you're trying to include some possibility of "you can still physically age, but you won't die from it," eternal youthfulness is how I would describe the example given in the OP, i.e. the elves from LOTR.
– ashes2ashes
Feb 16 at 8:02
4
@duskwuff I'd argue that the common scifi/fantasy trope usually refers to effects that essentially stop aging at the adult stage, having the equivalent of a prime-age human body for millenia. The term should reflect "that the subject, well, stays young" as opposed to someone who keeps visibly aging, becoming equivalent to a 80 year old human with the accumulated bodily changes of aging, then to a 100 year old human with even more such changes, and getting older and older but never dying from it. That would be possible in some story, but that's not the common scenario we're talking about.
– Peteris
Feb 17 at 2:14
@duskwuff : The question explicitly stated "growing to maturity, and then no longer suffering from aging", so this answer is valid. It also shows that the OP was not meaning a struldbrugg-like immortality.
– vsz
Feb 20 at 5:36
add a comment |
7
"Eternal youth" implies that the subject, well, stays young. It wouldn't be used to describe someone who keeps on getting older and older, but never dies of it.
– duskwuff
Feb 16 at 6:45
3
"Eternal youth" in the context of fiction is generally used to describe people invincible to death by old age. See the Wikipedia article I linked. Unless you're trying to include some possibility of "you can still physically age, but you won't die from it," eternal youthfulness is how I would describe the example given in the OP, i.e. the elves from LOTR.
– ashes2ashes
Feb 16 at 8:02
4
@duskwuff I'd argue that the common scifi/fantasy trope usually refers to effects that essentially stop aging at the adult stage, having the equivalent of a prime-age human body for millenia. The term should reflect "that the subject, well, stays young" as opposed to someone who keeps visibly aging, becoming equivalent to a 80 year old human with the accumulated bodily changes of aging, then to a 100 year old human with even more such changes, and getting older and older but never dying from it. That would be possible in some story, but that's not the common scenario we're talking about.
– Peteris
Feb 17 at 2:14
@duskwuff : The question explicitly stated "growing to maturity, and then no longer suffering from aging", so this answer is valid. It also shows that the OP was not meaning a struldbrugg-like immortality.
– vsz
Feb 20 at 5:36
7
7
"Eternal youth" implies that the subject, well, stays young. It wouldn't be used to describe someone who keeps on getting older and older, but never dies of it.
– duskwuff
Feb 16 at 6:45
"Eternal youth" implies that the subject, well, stays young. It wouldn't be used to describe someone who keeps on getting older and older, but never dies of it.
– duskwuff
Feb 16 at 6:45
3
3
"Eternal youth" in the context of fiction is generally used to describe people invincible to death by old age. See the Wikipedia article I linked. Unless you're trying to include some possibility of "you can still physically age, but you won't die from it," eternal youthfulness is how I would describe the example given in the OP, i.e. the elves from LOTR.
– ashes2ashes
Feb 16 at 8:02
"Eternal youth" in the context of fiction is generally used to describe people invincible to death by old age. See the Wikipedia article I linked. Unless you're trying to include some possibility of "you can still physically age, but you won't die from it," eternal youthfulness is how I would describe the example given in the OP, i.e. the elves from LOTR.
– ashes2ashes
Feb 16 at 8:02
4
4
@duskwuff I'd argue that the common scifi/fantasy trope usually refers to effects that essentially stop aging at the adult stage, having the equivalent of a prime-age human body for millenia. The term should reflect "that the subject, well, stays young" as opposed to someone who keeps visibly aging, becoming equivalent to a 80 year old human with the accumulated bodily changes of aging, then to a 100 year old human with even more such changes, and getting older and older but never dying from it. That would be possible in some story, but that's not the common scenario we're talking about.
– Peteris
Feb 17 at 2:14
@duskwuff I'd argue that the common scifi/fantasy trope usually refers to effects that essentially stop aging at the adult stage, having the equivalent of a prime-age human body for millenia. The term should reflect "that the subject, well, stays young" as opposed to someone who keeps visibly aging, becoming equivalent to a 80 year old human with the accumulated bodily changes of aging, then to a 100 year old human with even more such changes, and getting older and older but never dying from it. That would be possible in some story, but that's not the common scenario we're talking about.
– Peteris
Feb 17 at 2:14
@duskwuff : The question explicitly stated "growing to maturity, and then no longer suffering from aging", so this answer is valid. It also shows that the OP was not meaning a struldbrugg-like immortality.
– vsz
Feb 20 at 5:36
@duskwuff : The question explicitly stated "growing to maturity, and then no longer suffering from aging", so this answer is valid. It also shows that the OP was not meaning a struldbrugg-like immortality.
– vsz
Feb 20 at 5:36
add a comment |
The term “immorbidity” is used in some SF, for example Wil McCarthy’s Queendom of Sol series.
answered Feb 16 at 21:02
Mike ScottMike Scott
50.7k4160205
I learned something today! That's very useful. ... ok, not very useful, but it could be if magic was real. Or at some point in the future when I'm dead but technology can achieve effective immorbidity.
– einpoklum
Feb 18 at 0:13
add a comment |
The term “immorbidity” is used in some SF, for example Wil McCarthy’s Queendom of Sol series.
answered Feb 16 at 21:02
Mike ScottMike Scott
50.7k4160205
I learned something today! That's very useful. ... ok, not very useful, but it could be if magic was real. Or at some point in the future when I'm dead but technology can achieve effective immorbidity.
– einpoklum
Feb 18 at 0:13
add a comment |
The term “immorbidity” is used in some SF, for example Wil McCarthy’s Queendom of Sol series.
answered Feb 16 at 21:02
Mike ScottMike Scott
50.7k4160205
The term “immorbidity” is used in some SF, for example Wil McCarthy’s Queendom of Sol series.
answered Feb 16 at 21:02
Mike ScottMike Scott
50.7k4160205
answered Feb 16 at 21:02
Mike ScottMike Scott
50.7k4160205
answered Feb 16 at 21:02
Mike ScottMike Scott
50.7k4160205
answered Feb 16 at 21:02
Mike ScottMike Scott
50.7k4160205
50.7k4160205
I learned something today! That's very useful. ... ok, not very useful, but it could be if magic was real. Or at some point in the future when I'm dead but technology can achieve effective immorbidity.
– einpoklum
Feb 18 at 0:13
add a comment |
I learned something today! That's very useful. ... ok, not very useful, but it could be if magic was real. Or at some point in the future when I'm dead but technology can achieve effective immorbidity.
– einpoklum
Feb 18 at 0:13
I learned something today! That's very useful. ... ok, not very useful, but it could be if magic was real. Or at some point in the future when I'm dead but technology can achieve effective immorbidity.
– einpoklum
Feb 18 at 0:13
I learned something today! That's very useful. ... ok, not very useful, but it could be if magic was real. Or at some point in the future when I'm dead but technology can achieve effective immorbidity.
– einpoklum
Feb 18 at 0:13
add a comment |
While this question already has an answer, I'd like to add my two-cents.
From any dictionary definition I've looked at, Immortality means :
The ability to live forever; eternal life.
This definitions fits your criteria :
no longer suffering from aging or be capable of dying to the effects of aging while still maintaining vulnerability to wounds
Since in the definition of Immortality, no mention is made as to any resistance to wounds, illness, or anything else.
Someone who is unable to die from wounds is not immortal, but Invulnerable :
incapable of being wounded, hurt, or damaged.
So while it's true that immortality is commonly used to talk about someone/something that cannot die, or be killed, by definition it only refer to someone/something who cannot die from old age.
answered Feb 19 at 8:12
user3399user3399
52839
As one gets older, the probability of meeting a fatal accident increases asymptotically towards 1. "The ability to live forever" is therefore predicated on being able to survive what would otherwise be fatal accidents.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 10:14
@Sneftel the probability of meeting a fatal accident as one gets older, in and of itself is predicated around the idea of "aging", but anyone being able to live forever would most likely stop to age. Otherwise their body would inevitably stop functionning at some point.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:38
No, it's nothing to do with aging. As your lifespan increases, the likelihood of a low-probability event occuring (like a fatal accident) increases.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 16:53
@Sneftel Okay, but even then, the definition of Immortality itself only says "The ability to live forever; eternal life". It does not imply that you cannot be involved into an accident, that you cannot be killed or anything else. It litterally only says that someone Immortal has "The ability to live forever", it does not mean that they will.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:59
In that case, you might as well say that everyone is immortal, because there's a nonzero chance they might spontaneously mutate into being biologically immortal. They therefore technically have the ability to live forever.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 17:02
|
show 4 more comments
While this question already has an answer, I'd like to add my two-cents.
From any dictionary definition I've looked at, Immortality means :
The ability to live forever; eternal life.
This definitions fits your criteria :
no longer suffering from aging or be capable of dying to the effects of aging while still maintaining vulnerability to wounds
Since in the definition of Immortality, no mention is made as to any resistance to wounds, illness, or anything else.
Someone who is unable to die from wounds is not immortal, but Invulnerable :
incapable of being wounded, hurt, or damaged.
So while it's true that immortality is commonly used to talk about someone/something that cannot die, or be killed, by definition it only refer to someone/something who cannot die from old age.
answered Feb 19 at 8:12
user3399user3399
52839
As one gets older, the probability of meeting a fatal accident increases asymptotically towards 1. "The ability to live forever" is therefore predicated on being able to survive what would otherwise be fatal accidents.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 10:14
@Sneftel the probability of meeting a fatal accident as one gets older, in and of itself is predicated around the idea of "aging", but anyone being able to live forever would most likely stop to age. Otherwise their body would inevitably stop functionning at some point.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:38
No, it's nothing to do with aging. As your lifespan increases, the likelihood of a low-probability event occuring (like a fatal accident) increases.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 16:53
@Sneftel Okay, but even then, the definition of Immortality itself only says "The ability to live forever; eternal life". It does not imply that you cannot be involved into an accident, that you cannot be killed or anything else. It litterally only says that someone Immortal has "The ability to live forever", it does not mean that they will.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:59
In that case, you might as well say that everyone is immortal, because there's a nonzero chance they might spontaneously mutate into being biologically immortal. They therefore technically have the ability to live forever.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 17:02
|
show 4 more comments
While this question already has an answer, I'd like to add my two-cents.
From any dictionary definition I've looked at, Immortality means :
The ability to live forever; eternal life.
This definitions fits your criteria :
no longer suffering from aging or be capable of dying to the effects of aging while still maintaining vulnerability to wounds
Since in the definition of Immortality, no mention is made as to any resistance to wounds, illness, or anything else.
Someone who is unable to die from wounds is not immortal, but Invulnerable :
incapable of being wounded, hurt, or damaged.
So while it's true that immortality is commonly used to talk about someone/something that cannot die, or be killed, by definition it only refer to someone/something who cannot die from old age.
answered Feb 19 at 8:12
user3399user3399
52839
While this question already has an answer, I'd like to add my two-cents.
From any dictionary definition I've looked at, Immortality means :
The ability to live forever; eternal life.
This definitions fits your criteria :
no longer suffering from aging or be capable of dying to the effects of aging while still maintaining vulnerability to wounds
Since in the definition of Immortality, no mention is made as to any resistance to wounds, illness, or anything else.
Someone who is unable to die from wounds is not immortal, but Invulnerable :
incapable of being wounded, hurt, or damaged.
So while it's true that immortality is commonly used to talk about someone/something that cannot die, or be killed, by definition it only refer to someone/something who cannot die from old age.
answered Feb 19 at 8:12
user3399user3399
52839
answered Feb 19 at 8:12
user3399user3399
52839
answered Feb 19 at 8:12
user3399user3399
52839
answered Feb 19 at 8:12
user3399user3399
52839
52839
As one gets older, the probability of meeting a fatal accident increases asymptotically towards 1. "The ability to live forever" is therefore predicated on being able to survive what would otherwise be fatal accidents.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 10:14
@Sneftel the probability of meeting a fatal accident as one gets older, in and of itself is predicated around the idea of "aging", but anyone being able to live forever would most likely stop to age. Otherwise their body would inevitably stop functionning at some point.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:38
No, it's nothing to do with aging. As your lifespan increases, the likelihood of a low-probability event occuring (like a fatal accident) increases.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 16:53
@Sneftel Okay, but even then, the definition of Immortality itself only says "The ability to live forever; eternal life". It does not imply that you cannot be involved into an accident, that you cannot be killed or anything else. It litterally only says that someone Immortal has "The ability to live forever", it does not mean that they will.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:59
In that case, you might as well say that everyone is immortal, because there's a nonzero chance they might spontaneously mutate into being biologically immortal. They therefore technically have the ability to live forever.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 17:02
|
show 4 more comments
As one gets older, the probability of meeting a fatal accident increases asymptotically towards 1. "The ability to live forever" is therefore predicated on being able to survive what would otherwise be fatal accidents.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 10:14
@Sneftel the probability of meeting a fatal accident as one gets older, in and of itself is predicated around the idea of "aging", but anyone being able to live forever would most likely stop to age. Otherwise their body would inevitably stop functionning at some point.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:38
No, it's nothing to do with aging. As your lifespan increases, the likelihood of a low-probability event occuring (like a fatal accident) increases.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 16:53
@Sneftel Okay, but even then, the definition of Immortality itself only says "The ability to live forever; eternal life". It does not imply that you cannot be involved into an accident, that you cannot be killed or anything else. It litterally only says that someone Immortal has "The ability to live forever", it does not mean that they will.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:59
In that case, you might as well say that everyone is immortal, because there's a nonzero chance they might spontaneously mutate into being biologically immortal. They therefore technically have the ability to live forever.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 17:02
As one gets older, the probability of meeting a fatal accident increases asymptotically towards 1. "The ability to live forever" is therefore predicated on being able to survive what would otherwise be fatal accidents.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 10:14
As one gets older, the probability of meeting a fatal accident increases asymptotically towards 1. "The ability to live forever" is therefore predicated on being able to survive what would otherwise be fatal accidents.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 10:14
@Sneftel the probability of meeting a fatal accident as one gets older, in and of itself is predicated around the idea of "aging", but anyone being able to live forever would most likely stop to age. Otherwise their body would inevitably stop functionning at some point.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:38
@Sneftel the probability of meeting a fatal accident as one gets older, in and of itself is predicated around the idea of "aging", but anyone being able to live forever would most likely stop to age. Otherwise their body would inevitably stop functionning at some point.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:38
No, it's nothing to do with aging. As your lifespan increases, the likelihood of a low-probability event occuring (like a fatal accident) increases.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 16:53
No, it's nothing to do with aging. As your lifespan increases, the likelihood of a low-probability event occuring (like a fatal accident) increases.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 16:53
@Sneftel Okay, but even then, the definition of Immortality itself only says "The ability to live forever; eternal life". It does not imply that you cannot be involved into an accident, that you cannot be killed or anything else. It litterally only says that someone Immortal has "The ability to live forever", it does not mean that they will.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:59
@Sneftel Okay, but even then, the definition of Immortality itself only says "The ability to live forever; eternal life". It does not imply that you cannot be involved into an accident, that you cannot be killed or anything else. It litterally only says that someone Immortal has "The ability to live forever", it does not mean that they will.
– user3399
Feb 19 at 16:59
In that case, you might as well say that everyone is immortal, because there's a nonzero chance they might spontaneously mutate into being biologically immortal. They therefore technically have the ability to live forever.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 17:02
In that case, you might as well say that everyone is immortal, because there's a nonzero chance they might spontaneously mutate into being biologically immortal. They therefore technically have the ability to live forever.
– Sneftel
Feb 19 at 17:02
|
show 4 more comments
In sci-fi, this is often called "functionally immortal."
answered Feb 16 at 4:21
Feather FeetFeather Feet
451
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
7
Some instances would be nice :) (you can edit them into your answer)
– Jenayah
Feb 16 at 4:28
1
Yes, please include some examples or references for this term. Answers are best when properly sourced or supported. Thanks :-)
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 7:07
add a comment |
In sci-fi, this is often called "functionally immortal."
answered Feb 16 at 4:21
Feather FeetFeather Feet
451
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
7
Some instances would be nice :) (you can edit them into your answer)
– Jenayah
Feb 16 at 4:28
1
Yes, please include some examples or references for this term. Answers are best when properly sourced or supported. Thanks :-)
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 7:07
add a comment |
In sci-fi, this is often called "functionally immortal."
answered Feb 16 at 4:21
Feather FeetFeather Feet
451
In sci-fi, this is often called "functionally immortal."
answered Feb 16 at 4:21
Feather FeetFeather Feet
451
answered Feb 16 at 4:21
Feather FeetFeather Feet
451
answered Feb 16 at 4:21
Feather FeetFeather Feet
451
answered Feb 16 at 4:21
Feather FeetFeather Feet
451
451
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
7
Some instances would be nice :) (you can edit them into your answer)
– Jenayah
Feb 16 at 4:28
1
Yes, please include some examples or references for this term. Answers are best when properly sourced or supported. Thanks :-)
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 7:07
add a comment |
7
Some instances would be nice :) (you can edit them into your answer)
– Jenayah
Feb 16 at 4:28
1
Yes, please include some examples or references for this term. Answers are best when properly sourced or supported. Thanks :-)
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 7:07
7
7
Some instances would be nice :) (you can edit them into your answer)
– Jenayah
Feb 16 at 4:28
Some instances would be nice :) (you can edit them into your answer)
– Jenayah
Feb 16 at 4:28
1
1
Yes, please include some examples or references for this term. Answers are best when properly sourced or supported. Thanks :-)
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 7:07
Yes, please include some examples or references for this term. Answers are best when properly sourced or supported. Thanks :-)
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 7:07
add a comment |
Word
Eternal
Comes from Latin aeternus, aevum ‘age’.
answered Feb 15 at 22:38
OniOni
669217
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
3
"Eternal" literally means something that lasts forever. Can you explain how this word is appropriate for a being who doesn't age but can be killed?
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:21
Meaning of word comes from aevum that literally mean age" or"aeon" that applies to old age.
– Oni
Feb 16 at 10:16
2
But this question is about English words, not Latin ones. Regardless of the etymology of the word, "eternal" doesn't necessarily relate specifically to old age.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:46
Yes, it do if you know the meaning of the word.
– Oni
Feb 17 at 22:00
1
No it doesn't. I do know the meaning of the word, in fact I mentioned it in my first comment here.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 18 at 6:02
add a comment |
Word
Eternal
Comes from Latin aeternus, aevum ‘age’.
answered Feb 15 at 22:38
OniOni
669217
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
3
"Eternal" literally means something that lasts forever. Can you explain how this word is appropriate for a being who doesn't age but can be killed?
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:21
Meaning of word comes from aevum that literally mean age" or"aeon" that applies to old age.
– Oni
Feb 16 at 10:16
2
But this question is about English words, not Latin ones. Regardless of the etymology of the word, "eternal" doesn't necessarily relate specifically to old age.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:46
Yes, it do if you know the meaning of the word.
– Oni
Feb 17 at 22:00
1
No it doesn't. I do know the meaning of the word, in fact I mentioned it in my first comment here.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 18 at 6:02
add a comment |
Word
Eternal
Comes from Latin aeternus, aevum ‘age’.
answered Feb 15 at 22:38
OniOni
669217
Word
Eternal
Comes from Latin aeternus, aevum ‘age’.
answered Feb 15 at 22:38
OniOni
669217
answered Feb 15 at 22:38
OniOni
669217
answered Feb 15 at 22:38
OniOni
669217
answered Feb 15 at 22:38
OniOni
669217
669217
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
3
"Eternal" literally means something that lasts forever. Can you explain how this word is appropriate for a being who doesn't age but can be killed?
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:21
Meaning of word comes from aevum that literally mean age" or"aeon" that applies to old age.
– Oni
Feb 16 at 10:16
2
But this question is about English words, not Latin ones. Regardless of the etymology of the word, "eternal" doesn't necessarily relate specifically to old age.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:46
Yes, it do if you know the meaning of the word.
– Oni
Feb 17 at 22:00
1
No it doesn't. I do know the meaning of the word, in fact I mentioned it in my first comment here.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 18 at 6:02
add a comment |
3
"Eternal" literally means something that lasts forever. Can you explain how this word is appropriate for a being who doesn't age but can be killed?
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:21
Meaning of word comes from aevum that literally mean age" or"aeon" that applies to old age.
– Oni
Feb 16 at 10:16
2
But this question is about English words, not Latin ones. Regardless of the etymology of the word, "eternal" doesn't necessarily relate specifically to old age.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:46
Yes, it do if you know the meaning of the word.
– Oni
Feb 17 at 22:00
1
No it doesn't. I do know the meaning of the word, in fact I mentioned it in my first comment here.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 18 at 6:02
3
3
"Eternal" literally means something that lasts forever. Can you explain how this word is appropriate for a being who doesn't age but can be killed?
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:21
"Eternal" literally means something that lasts forever. Can you explain how this word is appropriate for a being who doesn't age but can be killed?
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 9:21
Meaning of word comes from aevum that literally mean age" or"aeon" that applies to old age.
– Oni
Feb 16 at 10:16
Meaning of word comes from aevum that literally mean age" or"aeon" that applies to old age.
– Oni
Feb 16 at 10:16
2
2
But this question is about English words, not Latin ones. Regardless of the etymology of the word, "eternal" doesn't necessarily relate specifically to old age.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:46
But this question is about English words, not Latin ones. Regardless of the etymology of the word, "eternal" doesn't necessarily relate specifically to old age.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 16 at 10:46
Yes, it do if you know the meaning of the word.
– Oni
Feb 17 at 22:00
Yes, it do if you know the meaning of the word.
– Oni
Feb 17 at 22:00
1
1
No it doesn't. I do know the meaning of the word, in fact I mentioned it in my first comment here.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 18 at 6:02
No it doesn't. I do know the meaning of the word, in fact I mentioned it in my first comment here.
– Rand al'Thor♦
Feb 18 at 6:02
add a comment |
protected by Rand al'Thor♦ Feb 16 at 9:19
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
5
Although this looks like it may be a better fit on English Language/English Learners (which one has single word requests?), immortality is very much a SF thing and we have such "terms" questions. As per the "unclear" part, it appears LOTR is only given as an example, although a Tolkien-word for it might be a nice addition to an answer. TLDR: voted to leave open.
– Jenayah
Feb 15 at 21:42
6
To quote Wikipedia, Immortal beings and species abound in fiction, especially fantasy fiction, and the meaning of "immortal" tends to vary.
– gowenfawr
Feb 15 at 21:52
1
@Valorum truth be told, I (myself, not speaking for anyone else nor judging) wouldn't take any enjoyment in answering in such a way, but I still do think this is somewhat on-topic for the site, although not the "best question evah"
– Jenayah
Feb 15 at 22:50
3
@Jenayah - The question "What word in LOTR describes the Elves immortality" would be fine on the site. The question "Is there a word in the English language that describes non-aging" would also be fine, but not here.
– Valorum
Feb 15 at 23:05
3
Usually that's precisely what "immortality" means. Not being killable by wounds would be "invincibility". "I'm immortal, not invincible". I would have made this an answer if the question wasn't protected.
– Kapten-N
Feb 18 at 13:09